Why Apeldoorn is responding to COA’s cry for help to immediately receive 150 asylum seekers from Ter Apel | Apeldoorn

For days, about seven hundred asylum seekers have been sleeping outside on the street at the registration center in Ter Apel. The situation is dire and for the first time MSF is providing medical aid on Dutch territory.

To somewhat alleviate the appalling situation in Ter Apel, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) reported this week to the North and East Gelderland Security Region. The latter, in turn, approached the municipality of Apeldoorn with the request to immediately receive 150 asylum seekers from the application center in Ter Apel. Apeldoorn has complied with this.

In a statement, the Security Region announced on Friday afternoon: ‘Apeldoorn has two sports halls available for the reception of displaced Ukrainians. Not all beds in these sports halls are occupied yet, so there is temporary space for 150 people. It concerns a maximum of 4 nights.’

The refugees will be accommodated in sports hall Mheenpark and sports hall Zuiderpark. The neighborhood was informed by letter on Thursday evening about the temporary situation. Local residents understand that Apeldoorn extends a helping hand to asylum seekers, although critical voices can also be heard from the neighbourhood.

After no more than four days in Apeldoorn, the refugees leave for other reception locations in the Netherlands, where they can stay longer. This is also possible in Doetinchem, where the Security Region will have 225 extra crisis emergency shelter places available for asylum seekers from Sunday.

For the crisis emergency care in both sports halls in Apeldoorn, the municipality is working closely with the Security Region with regard to security and support. ‘Any new or additional request from COA will be reviewed by the Security Region on a case-by-case basis.’