During winter and the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2021, we opened an emergency reception and care centre for the most vulnerable people in Brussels. The aim was to isolate and treat people if they tested positive for COVID-19. We also supported the COVID-19 vaccination campaign from May to September for all vulnerable people.

In parallel, emergency shelter interventions were launched in February and May 2021. During the interventions, we became aware of large numbers of unaccompanied foreign minors among our patients. These minors had not applied for asylum in Belgium and therefore found themselves without any support in the city. To address the specific needs of this vulnerable group, MSF opened an emergency reception centre, with a capacity of 80 beds, in October 2021. The centre provided a place where unaccompanied minors could access various services, including social support, medical and psychological care and recreational activities, as well as to food and shelter.

In addition, an MSF outreach team assisted people with, or at risk of contracting, COVID-19, who are living in squats. The team also ran health promotion, and infection prevention and control activities in shelters for homeless people and migrants.

We also continued to work in the Humanitarian Hub, a joint project with other Belgian aid organisations and a citizens' initiative in Brussels, where we have been offering mental healthcare to migrants since 2017.

Support during exceptional floods in Wallonia region
When Wallonia was hit by exceptional floods in early July, we launched an emergency intervention in Liège province, one of the worst-affected areas. Our team supported a reception centre for disaster victims by coordinating activities and providing mental health assistance.