Hunger Strike Ends as Belgian Government Offers Talks on Migrant Regularization

In Brussels, several hundred people have refused to feed themselves since May 23, demanding their regularization. The government seems ready to give in, as the situation was becoming critical and could have turned into a tragedy.

The hunger strike observed by some 450 undocumented migrants demanding a residence permit with access to the labor market is "temporarily suspended," their support committee announced on Wednesday, hailing "an outstretched hand" from the government.

"It was the only good decision to make," according to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who regrets that people had to be hospitalized and that some of them are still in intensive care. It was urgent to put an end to it, Médecins du Monde believes for its part.

But what probably pushed the government to react after weeks of deadlock is the recent visit of two UN experts who were concerned about the deterioration of the health of some hunger and thirst strikers, especially among the some 250 housed in this Brussels church, one of the three occupied sites in the Belgian capital.

The Bruxelles.news news site reports that they are mostly Moroccans and Algerians working in sectors lacking manpower such as construction, catering or cleaning. After years of living in Brussels, they are demanding a residence permit.