It was the last option that the municipality of Haarlem wanted, but the camp beds in the Haarlem emergency shelter in the Beijneshal will be used for another two weeks to receive asylum seekers. It concerns waiting asylum seekers who cannot find shelter in the application center in Ter Apel.
Mayor Jos Wienen is aware that it is not an ideal solution, but he has not been able to quickly find another location to deal with the emergency situation in Ter Apel. Sometimes people have to sleep on chairs there.
In mid-March, the camp beds in haste the old sports hall brought in next to Haarlem station to receive refugee Ukrainians. The hall hardly needed to be used, because the Ukrainians quickly found shelter in hotels and near individuals† But now we have been staying there for a week and a half asylum seekers of different nationalities in the Beijneshal, awaiting a place in an asylum seekers’ center. So far they can barely move through.
Tour of the Netherlands in one day
That the situation is dire becomes clear when Machiel Pouw of the Red Cross Kennemerland tells about a twenty-something who is staying in the Haarlem emergency shelter. “He had arrived in Limburg and brought to Rotterdam on the same day, there to Ter Apel and that same evening he arrived here in Haarlem. Then you have seen all corners of the Netherlands in 24 hours.”
The camp beds that were initially set up in rows in the old sports hall have now been replaced by tents, says Machiel Pouw. A small team of professionals together with a dozen Red Cross volunteers do everything they can to make the emergency shelter as ‘homely’ as possible, especially for the families who find shelter there. A corner has been set up for the young refugees with new children’s furniture and many colored pencils, Lego and other toys have been supplied.
The tents can be zipped together, as has already happened for a family with six people, says Pouw. He describes a friendly atmosphere in the old sports hall. “I am always surprised by the resilience of the people. They help with their own shelter by shopping, helping with cooking and getting a broom through the sports hall.” He has seen a small community forming within a week.
‘Humanity’
Pouw knows that the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers is diligently looking for ‘sustainable solutions’, but he is happy that the Municipality of Haarlem is at least keeping this location open. Despite the fact that it is actually only suitable for care for a maximum of 72 hours. “But moving from crisis shelter to crisis shelter every time, nobody is happy about that.” He does think it is crucial that clarity is given to people quickly. “That is the minimum of human dignity you can offer.”
Mayor Jos Wienen of Haarlem also speaks of a ‘serious situation’ that people have to stay in the crisis emergency shelters for so long. He paid a visit to the Beijneshal yesterday. “People are grateful and, despite the flawed circumstances, they feel at home.” He expects that the longer reception period will not cause any problems.
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