The municipality of Ede has arranged extra emergency shelters after it turned out that the shelter in the Harskamp was completely full. In the night from Monday to Tuesday, therefore, beds had to be placed in, for example, dining rooms. A day later that was no longer necessary, because of the extra places at other locations. According to Ede, these are real emergency places where people cannot stay for months.
Many questions from municipalities
Municipalities are themselves responsible for the reception of Ukrainian asylum seekers. All 25 security regions have been instructed to create 2000 places where they can be accommodated. Half of this must be completed within two weeks. Yesterday the national government announced the formation of set up a crisis team dealing with the refugee problem.
The Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) notices that municipalities have many questions about the reception of refugees from Ukraine, a spokesperson told ANP news agency. “Questions are asked such as: how do you arrange education for the children? Is the Ukrainian health insurance of people, if they have it, valid here? A question is, for example, about parents with a baby: are they entitled to care from a child health clinic and how do we arrange for the babies to get their vaccinations?”
Municipalities can exchange experiences and tips via a special page of the VNG. In addition, the VNG is working with the national government on a document that explains how municipalities can deal with crisis relief for Ukrainians.
Host families
Citizens are also committed to the reception of Ukrainians. Through the private initiative Shelter Ukraine, 8300 people have now applied to offer temporary accommodation to Ukrainian refugees. The organization will continue to collect addresses for one more day.
The list is then sent to the Red Cross, the Netherlands Council for Refugees and the Salvation Army. They will take care of the screening and guide the refugees.
Every refugee from Ukraine receives the same treatment, State Secretary Eric van den Burg of Justice and Security said in the House of Representatives today, in answer to questions from Bij1-MP Sylvana Simons. He is referring, for example, to African students, who were confronted with violence and discrimination when they fled from Ukraine. “Whether you look like Mrs. Simons or like me, or if you’re wearing a headscarf, it doesn’t make any difference. Make no mistake about it, you’re just taken care of.”
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