The cabinet calls on Ukrainians who come to the Netherlands to register, so that the numbers and their whereabouts can be monitored. The cabinet is also opening a special telephone number for municipalities that receive refugees from Ukraine.
Mayor Sharon Dijksma during a visit to a reception hub in the Jaarbeurs Utrecht.
Ⓒ ANP / ANP
The Ukrainians are in various places in the Netherlands where first reception has been arranged, such as in the barracks in Harskamp. This number does not include Ukrainians who have reported to Ter Apel with an asylum application. This concerns a relatively small number; a few dozen last week. Ukrainians do not need to apply for asylum. They are allowed to travel and reside freely in Europe for a certain period.
Solidarity
State Secretary Eric van der Burg (Asylum) praises the Dutch for their solidarity with Ukrainians fleeing their war-torn homeland. “We are extremely impressed by what is currently happening in the Netherlands.”
The cabinet decided on two things on Wednesday evening: a telephone number will come into effect for municipalities with immediate effect, under the name Central Node Information Ukraine. From Thursday, from the same node, a distribution over reception places for Ukrainians who come to the Netherlands will take place, according to Van der Burg.
Registration
In addition, Ukrainians in the Netherlands can register in the population register from next week. “That way we know who they are and where they are about everyone,” says Van der Burg. He also explicitly calls on Ukrainians to register themselves. The cabinet already has this information ready for Ukrainians who are in regular asylum seekers’ centres, but many people allow themselves to be accommodated with family or friends, says the state secretary. So far, the cabinet has 2600 people in the picture. “But what we do not know is how many people are currently with friends and family,” said Van der Burg on Wednesday evening.
The House of Representatives already urged such a system on Wednesday morning. Ukrainians who report to the Netherlands are allowed to stay for up to a year – which can be extended at a later date – and are entitled to care and education. The cabinet is also working on a way to give them the right to work, says Van der Burg.
The Hague is currently hosting 350 refugees from Ukraine. The municipality says it has about 500 places available, including in hotels. “These are emergency shelters. People sleep a few nights. A part then goes on to relatives or a host family, inside or outside The Hague.”
Host families
16,000 potential host families have now registered for the reception of refugees from Ukraine, the organization Takecarebnb said. As part of the partnership with the Salvation Army, Red Cross, VluchtelingenWerk and NLvoorElkaar, Takecarebnb is responsible for the registration and screening of host families.
A team of about 75 people is busy with the screening. “Two weeks ago we didn’t know anything, a week ago we started preparations and today we call all those host families,” said Takecarebnb director Robert Zaal. The first Ukrainians are expected to be taken in by these host families this week.
When screening host families, we look at the space people have at home for reception, from when people can be accommodated and whether Ukrainians can bring a pet, for example. According to Takecarebnb, the number of host families is still increasing. The organization also expects addresses of potential host families from other initiatives, such as the Citizens’ Initiative Shelter Ukraine. Those are expected to be transferred to Takecarbnb on Thursday.
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