argia.eus
INPRIMATU
The Atxondo Host Village occupies the house of Axpe
  • The hostel in Axpe was used from 2018 to October of this year to welcome and house the migrants, but was expelled by the City Hall of Atxondo arguing that the state of the building was not safe and that the inspection had to be passed. After more than two months living on the street, Sunday reopened the doors of the house of Axpe the Atxondo Host Village.
ARGIA @argia 2022ko abenduaren 21a
Argazkia: Jon Garate Ondarre

On 19 December is the International Day of Migrants, considered as "a day of demand more than a celebration", the Host People of Atxondo has used this date for action: From 2018 to October they return to the hostel in Axpe, where they were the residence of migrant citizens. "We come to say that we go home publicly, because this building is from the town and not from the city hall. Moreover, it has become clear that the people want to remain a host people", they say in the reading made public after the doors have opened. Because they don't have "nothing to hide" and "we're doing everything we're doing with transparency and affection," the building was occupied one day after telling the mayor about his decision to go home.

Open again the hostel of Axpe, Padic, Omar, Dame, Era, Bouba, Souffiane and Yassin live now. In fact, the seven members of the Atxondo Host People have been found on the red street since 6 October, when the Atxondo City Hall expelled from the Axpe house arguing that the building was in a precarious situation and that the inspection had to be passed. According to the City Hall, the closure of the house of Axpe responded to the intention of ensuring the safety of the occupants of it, but according to the statements of the members of the Reception to ARGIA, “what is not certain is that there are people in the red street without the possibility of reception”.

Under his responsibility, Front Desk asked him to continue using Axpe's house until he received the inspection report. However, there was no consensus between the two parties, and from then until Sunday they have lived on the street. In the absence of a refuge, and as a protest, a camp was conducted in the arches of the town hall of Atxondo, in which they have been present practically throughout this time. After the meeting held on 3 November with the City Hall, both parties undertook to dismantle the camp, but seeing that the City Hall did not fulfil its commitment, on 15 November it re-encamped. The camp was disassembled on Sunday by the receptionists with their initiative. "We can't prolong this situation any longer when winter gets tough. We can't prolong more when we know that people are on the red street, we can't stretch more when the cold and hunger are the bread of every day."

They have had to take the path of occupation because they have not left another alternative, they argue: "In these months we have made many attempts with the mayor, we swear that we have done everything we can, we have shown willingness to speak at all times, we have introduced different requests, most without responding, we have fulfilled the commitments and we have given our hands for the solution... but we have not received many laps." In addition, according to them, the Basque Government and the PNV in Atxondo have not been able to reach an agreement. "While the Basque Government says it's a local problem, the mayor says it's a problem that's out of municipal competence. In this Ping-Pong game, unfortunately there is a lot at stake. Fundamental rights, like housing, are at stake."

They say that the decision to return home from Axpe has left them a bittersweet taste. "Sweet because we go home and we will continue with the Welcome project. Because salty hasn't been as we originally thought. Because since October 6, we have been around this issue and the end is not what we wanted." However, they are eager to reinvent their work.