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Flavours from Home : Eight restaurants, cafés and bistros bringing refugees’ recipes to Belgium, Luxembourg
If you’re out and about in Belgium and Luxembourg this Summer, why not grab a bite to eat at a refugee-led restaurant, cafe or bistro? For World Refugee Day 2023, UNHCR Brussels is bringing you just a selection of the many inspirational businesses around Belgium and Luxembourg built by or employing refugees. This is just a snapshot and if you visit or have been to another establishment we’ve missed, why not tag us on Twitter at @Refugees_EU and tell us more!
Belgium
Stella Specialty Coffee Bar
Bassel and his team serve up a variety of rare and interesting coffees at this popular breakfast spot in Brussels, while loveable sheepdog Stella greets human and canine café-goers alike. The usual cappuccinos and americanos feature alongside more unique inventions – try a lemongrass or rosewater latte. Teas, smoothies and a tantalizing selection of homemade pastries complete the picture. For the full experience, ask the barista what special coffees they have – these change week by week. Well-placed between the Saint-Gilles and Chatelain quarters, Stella is often abuzz with friendly chat as regulars and commuters stop by for breakfast or a caffeine fix. Bright but cosy, the relaxed atmosphere makes for a coffee break you’ll never want to end.
© Laura Benocci
We Exist
“Made by Syrians – for everyone” is the motto emblazoned on the windows of We Exist in Brussels- a unique restaurant, catering company and NGO rolled into one. The project was born when co-manager Obada first combined his mother’s timeless recipes with his own entrepreneurial streak, hosting a “Syrian Dinner” event at the Brussels Quaker House. ‘We Exist’ soon grew into not only a successful catering company with many local and international clients, but also a valuable hub for newcomers to access the labour market. On the back of their catering success, Obada and the team also opened the doors of a bright and welcoming restaurant space just a stone’s throw from Brussels’ Botanical Gardens. House favourites include, among others, the Syrian-style maklubeh and the variety of traditional homemade mezzes.
© UNHCR/Benjamin Mason
La Fourna
Located in Tour & Taxis to the north of Brussels, La Fourna serves up a unique, vegetarian blend of Middle-Eastern and African cuisine. The restaurant was opened by Belgian local Hilde in 2020, with the aim of employing and empowering women with migrant backgrounds, including refugees and asylum-seekers. The staple dish at La Fourna is their hand-stretched, hand-baked flatbread, cooked fresh on a searing hotplate. Bread lends itself to sharing, says Hilde, and every culture has its own techniques – La Fourna’s chefs contribute their own home recipes and flavours with a range of spreads and side dishes to accompany the flatbread. The team’s newest member Rachel hopes to see dishes from her home country Ethiopia on the menu soon, but for now highly recommends the baba-ganoush. The spacious inside terrace and leafy décor make La Fourna the perfect lunch spot, but for Rachel and others it represents much more than that: the chance to access to the labour market and forge friendships through a community of strong, supportive women.
© UNHCR/Benjamin Mason
Baalbeck
Located in the heart of Mons in southern Belgium, this classic Eastern-Mediterranean restaurant takes its name from the owner’s home town in Lebanon. Behind the elegant granite façade, a wide selection of mezze dishes cater for all tastes – vegetarians and meat-eaters alike will find plenty to choose from here. Among the chefs working their magic in the kitchen is Syrian refugee Kamal – his work at Baalbeck has been a source of stability and a great opportunity for integration. As much as Kamal enjoys cooking, outside the kitchen his true passion is football. Kamal will be representing Belgium in a team of refugees and locals at the 2023 Unity Euro Cup in Frankfurt this 28 June – proud to wear the badge of his adopted country.
© Baalbeck
Knit & Drink
When Anna fled the war in Ukraine and arrived in Belgium in March 2022, little did she know that a year later she would be combining her passions for mixology and knitting in her own unique pop-up bar. When the town of Puurs-Sint-Amands in the province of Antwerp made a high-street building available for a one-year pop-up venue, Anna didn’t hesitate for a second to apply – « I am fearless ever since the war broke out, » she says. Knit & Drink opened its pastel-pink doors in April, and while you won’t find the standard soft drink or beer on the menu, the choice is yours between bespoke cocktails, homemade lemonades and pastries, Ukrainian red berry teas, and unique coffees such as the iced banana latte. In addition, knitting enthusiasts are encouraged to work on their projects over coffee and a slice of cake, or browse Anna’s own line of textile products. Everything Anna does for her pop-up bar, she does with love: « I’ve had a tough year, but thanks to Knit and Drink, I have something to look forward to every day again. »
© UNHCR/Benjamin Mason
Safari
As a young girl in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sandra inherited her passion for cooking from her mother and grandmother, and learned from a young age that food brings people together. When she arrived in Belgium in 2005 as a refugee from DRC, cooking and food remained a common thread – with the aromas of Sandra’s family recipes captivating her neighbours at the reception-centre and helping her forge new friendships in her new home. In March 2023, she was able to fulfill her dream and open the first African restaurant in Limburg, just a stone’s throw from Hasselt train station. With specialties such as grilled goat, cassava leaves, grilled fish and fried plantains, Sandra brings authentic Congolese cuisine to your plate in Safari restaurant.
© UNHCR/Angèle Bertrand
Frozen Art
Antwerp’s newest ice cream shop, Frozen Art, brings shiryakh – traditional Afghan ice cream made of cream, milk and fresh cardamom – to Belgium. Its owner Assadullah fled his country over a decade ago and arrived in Belgium as an unaccompanied child refugee. “Belgium has given me so much and I wanted to give something back,” Assadullah reflected. Each morning, Assadullah’s day begins with a labour of love to prepare the ice cream mixture which he whips up in front of his customers in a deep, cooled iron pot, until the ice cream takes shape. An array of toppings – from blueberries, chocolate chips to a crunch of almonds – transform each scoop into a masterpiece of flavor. Assadullah’s favorite topping? A combination of qaimaq (condensed milk), pistachio and mango.
© Julieta Hisi/UNHCR
Luxembourg
Chiche!
Tucked beneath an ordinary-looking apartment block in the Limpertsberg quarter of Luxembourg City, this vibrant restaurant fosters social inclusion while serving up authentic Lebanese cuisine. A social project launched by Luxembourger Marianne Donven in 2017, Chiche! provides a foothold for refugees and migrants, facilitating access to employment, education and integration. Long-serving staff member Ihab reflects on the diversity which keeps Chiche! in business: “In Chiche! you get refugees from many countries, from many cultures.” Since opening its doors, Chiche! has proved a success on all fronts, with three more locations opening up in addition to the sizeable flagship branch. Up-cycled décor, artwork and antique furniture create a cozy and convivial atmosphere, as locals and expats alike flock to sample house favourites such as the falafel and chiche taouk.
© UNHCR/Frederik Bordon
Bamyan
Taking its name from a historic city and province in the snow-capped mountains of central Afghanistan, Bamyan is a family-run restaurant bringing authentic Afghan cuisine to the banks of the Alzette river in Luxembourg. An attractive south-facing terrace offers idyllic views of Luxembourg’s skyline, the river and a nearby viaduct – perfect for warmer evenings. Indoors, the rustic brick archways and contemporary artwork combine in a trendy, welcoming ambiance. Luxembourg’s first Afghan restaurant, Bamyan was opened in 2022 by two couples – the Modasir’s and Etemadi’s – with the aim of introducing the diverse local population to real Afghan delicacies. Specialities include the Ashak – vegetable dumplings topped with lentil sauce – and the Qabuli – an aromatic rice dish with marinated beef and caramelized carrots.
Culled from UNHCR website
A new data released today by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has revealed that about 8,000 migrants were reported dead or missing worldwide in 2025, bringing the total since 2014 to more than 82,000.
At least around 340,000 family members are estimated to have been directly affected. Despite declines in arrivals in some regions, the data shows migration routes are shifting rather than easing, with risks remaining high along increasingly dangerous journeys.
The findings draw on IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Global Overview of Migration Routes and new analysis from the Missing Migrants Project (MMP). DTM tracks movements, changing routes and conditions along migration corridors through direct field monitoring and governmental data sources, while MMP documents migrant deaths and disappearances using official records, media reports and information from IOM missions worldwide. Together, the reports show how drivers at origin and policy changes along the routes are reshaping migration journeys, while the human cost of unsafe migration continues to rise.
“Routes are shifting in response to conflict, climate pressures and policy changes, but the risks are still very real,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “Behind these numbers are people taking dangerous journeys and families left waiting for news that may never come. Data is critical to understanding these routes and designing interventions that can reduce risks, save lives and promote safer migration pathways.”
The 2025 Global Overview of Migration Routes shows that lower arrival figures in some regions do not reflect reduced migration pressure, but rather changing journeys as enforcement measures, conflict dynamics and environmental stress have altered established pathways.
In the Americas, northbound movements along the Central American route fell sharply compared to 2024. In Europe, overall arrivals declined, but the profile of movements changed, with Bangladeshi nationals becoming the largest group arriving while Syrian arrivals fell following political and policy shifts.
In the Horn of Africa, movements towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia decreased slightly from 2024 but remained above 2023 levels, while flows from East Africa towards Southern Africa increased late in the year due to shifting labour demands in southern Ethiopia. Along the Western African Atlantic route, arrivals to the Canary Islands dropped significantly after strengthened border cooperation, but journeys have become longer, riskier and more geographically dispersed.
Across regions, DTM data shows persistent pressures along migration routes. Thousands of migrants were stranded in border areas with limited access to shelter, health care and protection, while returns and relocations increased, placing additional strain on local services and complicating reintegration.
Together, the findings show that changing routes do not mean reduced harm. As journeys become more fragmented and hazardous, deaths, disappearances and the suffering of families left behind remain a persistent reality.
The reports reflect IOM’s route-based approach, linking mobility tracking with analysis of risks and fatalities to better target interventions, prioritize resources and support governments along key migration corridors.
Ahead of the International Migration Review Forum in May, IOM is calling for renewed commitments to protect migrants, prevent deaths and disappearances, and better support families affected by migration tragedies. The Organization says the evidence is clear: fewer movements do not automatically mean safer journeys, and saving lives requires stronger international cooperation and sustained investment in evidence-based responses.
Security operatives in Libya have in different operations incepted human smugglers and rescued the victims.
According to Migrant Rescue Watch Police during desert patrols on April 14, intercepted a vehicle carrying 23 undocumented #migrants including women & children of sub-Saharan nationalities. “All transferred to Al-Shatti Security Directorate pending DCIM notification.
On April 13, Migrant Rescue Watch said Libyan Navy PB “Al-Marqab” rescued off the coast of Tobruk 32 #migrants of Bangladeshi, Egyptian & Sudanese nationalities. All disembarked in Tobruk Naval Base where they were provided with medical & humanitarian assistance by LRC.
It added that Libyan Coast Guard (Gen.Cmd.) rescued 130 nm NE of Tobruk 33 #migrants of Bangladeshi, Egyptian and Sudanese nationalities. All disembarked in Tobruk Naval Base.
About the same period it said the CID in Tobruk thwarted a major human smuggling operation and seized a truck transporting 150 undocumented #migrants of Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationalities.
Aegean Boat Report has condemned alleged shooting of 38 people including children by the Greek Coast Guard.
Late Friday night, @BoatReport said “Greek authorities say Coast Guard personnel fired gunshots to stop a high-powered speedboat carrying 38 people north of Rhodes. According to the official statement, warning shots were fired first, followed by what the Coast Guard calls “targeted gunfire” aimed at disabling the vessel.”
According to @BoatReport, this explanation raises serious questions.
It said firing at a small moving boat in the dark, from another moving vessel at sea, while 38 civilians — including many children — are onboard, is not a controlled or precise operation. It is extremely dangerous.
“Even a trained marksman would struggle to hit a specific target under such conditions. From a moving patrol vessel, in the dark, using a handgun or shotgun, the idea of accurately hitting a precise point on a fast-moving boat is highly questionable.
“Bullets can easily miss, ricochet off the hull, or strike people onboard. The boat was reportedly packed with passengers. So the central question remains: Why did they open fire at all?
@BoatReport added that “Greek authorities claim, as they routinely do in such incidents, that the vessel was “maneuvering dangerously and putting lives at risk.” But was it actually maneuvering dangerously — or simply trying to get away from the Coast Guard?
“Because once officers begin firing at a vessel carrying 38 people — 15 of them small children — the question of who is truly putting lives at risk becomes unavoidable.”
@BoatReport noted that if the intention was to arrest the smugglers, there were safer alternatives, adding “boats transporting migrants often attempt to return to Turkey after dropping passengers. Allowing the passengers to disembark safely and intercepting the vessel on its return would avoid placing dozens of civilians directly in the line of fire.
“Instead, gunfire was used against a boat filled with men, women and children.This is not the first time such reckless actions have been reported. Outside Symi, a man was shot in the head during what authorities also described as “targeted shots.” More recently, off Chios, a Coast Guard vessel collided with a migrant boat during a high-speed chase, leaving 15 people dead.
In this case, no one was killed. But that does not make the decision any less dangerous.
One must also ask whether the onboard cameras on the Coast Guard vessel were operating during this incident. In previous cases, footage that could clarify what happened has often been unavailable, with cameras reportedly “not activated” or “not functioning.”
“Once again, the Greek Coast Guard appears willing to place the lives of civilians — including children — at extreme risk in the name of border enforcement.It is only a matter of time before such actions end in tragedy again.According to authorities, the 38 people onboard were eventually taken to land on Rhodes: 17 men, six women and 15 children. Two of the men, Turkish nationals aged 41 and 31, were arrested on suspicion of smuggling.”
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