The 25 security regions have agreed to jointly create thousands of additional reception places for asylum seekers in the short term. In principle, the agreement is that each region will provide 150 extra emergency shelters, for which, for example, empty offices, event or sports halls can be made suitable.
It is a solution intended for a period of two to three weeks. After that, a structural solution must be found. In recent months, the situation in Ter Apel was sometimes poignant, with asylum seekers lying outside in a sleeping bag and night bus rides to accommodate people.
Municipalities cannot be forced to arrange this shelter, but State Secretary Van der Burg is confident that the short-term shelter will be realised. “Everyone has agreed, and I have full confidence in these 25 mayors. It should ensure that we don’t have to call every day at 9:30 pm to see who still has room.”
The chairman of the Security Council, mayor Bruls van Nijmegen, hopes that the asylum reception will soon be more peaceful. According to him, the promise of the security regions could also mean that fewer Ukrainians are being received in some places, in favor of regular asylum seekers.
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