Impact of Brussels attacks on African residents

Following Tuesday's attacks in Brussels which left at least 30 people dead, African residents in Matonge district prepare to pick up their lives and move on.

Named after a lively area of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Matonge took shape in the wake of the country's independence in 1960, though the area already had African associations. The following year, as more Congolese citizens moved to Belgium to study, an aristocratic philanthropist called Monique Van der Straten founded "Maisaf" (La Maison Africaine), a hostel for these students, on rue Alsace-Lorraine, in the heart of today's Matonge.

A community – with nightclubs, bars and shops – grew up in the network of streets south of Chaussée de Wavre, and other African immigrants followed in the wake of the Congolese pioneers.

Meanwhile the Brussels metro system has partially re-opened after Tuesday’s attacks. But for some travellers, it may be an option they are now looking to avoid.

Cars have also returned to the European district, but the main international airport remained closed on Wednesday.

It seems a cloud of fear now hangs over the Belgian capital.

In response to whether he felt secure, one man said: “No, a bit insecure, but basically you know, what to do? You have no influence on the conditions here.”

Brussels is now on the highest level of security alert and has more soldiers on the streets.

The capital is diverse and some in the Muslim community are worried about being judged.

“People look into our eyes, into our face and they feel, these are people, maybe they can do it. But we don’t have anything to do with that,” said Karim, a shop-owner.

“So it will be very affected, our society. In fact, our society needs to now wake up and inform to the leaders who can do something to change this.”

Maelbeek station, where one of the blasts happened, remains closed as police investigations continue.

In this time of tragedy, the people of Brussels are uniting in their grief and horror.

Reporting from Brussels, euronews’ Sandor Zsiros said: “As well as the shock and fear, there’s a strong feeling of solidarity in Brussels.

“People are keeping together and, on the community sites, many offered free transport or accommodation for those who were blocked here because of the airport closure.

“And the local Muslim community has organised blood donations for the wounded.”

(AfricaLink/Euronews/DW)