72 homeless people died in Brussels in 2016

The number of homeless people who died on the streets of Brussels rose last year, from 55 to 72, according to the collective Morts de la Rue.

"The figures have been increasing for the last 12 years that the collective exists,” said Bert de Bock, coordinator of the group which annually records the deaths of homeless people in the capital.

He said the figures had tripled since 2005. Of the 72 people who died in 2016, 40 of them actually lived on the streets at the time of their deaths. The others had a history of homelessness and had recently spent time sleeping rough.

"We found that in this group the Poles represent the biggest nationality affected," said de Bock, who links this to the fact that many immigrants find work on the black market, with little or no protection or security.

According to the organisation, the deaths observed are generally not due to the cold, but to "a multitude of factors, constant stress, poor sleep and poorly treated illnesses".