News item | 06-07-2022 | 14:45
From next week, the Cabinet and other authorities expect the opening of the first agreed additional crisis emergency shelter locations and to start with the accelerated outflow of 7,500 status holders to municipalities. The situation in the asylum reception and in Ter Apel is still acute, whereby it remains to be done every day to offer every asylum seeker shelter. This situation is expected to continue in the coming days.
Since 17 June, the cabinet has made weekly decisions in the national crisis structure about the transfer of asylum seekers. The central government, the security regions, local authorities, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) and other parties involved have developed a plan of approach and measures for the short and medium term. Today, the Cabinet again discussed the progress of the measures from this plan.
Progress plans and measures
The agreed measures are currently being made operational. Organizing the measures obviously takes time. Security regions, local authorities, COA and other parties involved are making an extraordinary effort to make this possible quickly.
In the security regions, 225 extra crisis emergency shelters are being prepared per region. The government ensures that medical care, personnel and transport are available at these additional locations.
In the context of care, three things are needed: regular consultation hours, a 24-hour line and emergency assistance via 112. There are various parties that will provide this care at the various locations, namely Healthcare Asylum Seekers (GZA), Just4Care and Dokters van de Wereld.
A first group of approximately 150 government officials has registered to help with management and security at the crisis emergency shelter locations. Efforts are being made to quickly make more people available in the short term. That is why the government is exploring with employment agencies what capacity they can provide.
In order to guarantee that there is sufficient transport to move 450 asylum seekers every day to crisis emergency shelters in security regions throughout the Netherlands, the Transport and Support Service of the Ministry of Justice and Security provides part of the transport. In addition, various parties are ready to supply buses with drivers.
Preparations are also in full swing for the accelerated relocation of 7,500 status holders within 6 weeks. This concerns people who have a residence permit and are therefore entitled to housing because it has been established that they have fled war and violence. It is expected that from next week the first status holders will be transferred to intermediate facilities or other housing in municipalities. COA is preparing the accelerated outflow so that it can be carried out properly under the coordination of the security regions.
Additional application center
In addition, a location has been found for an extra registration center in Bant in the Noordoostpolder municipality. This extra registration center should help to relieve the pressure on Ter Apel. The land on which the application center is to be located has been purchased by COA. Today COA submitted an official request to the Municipal Executive of the Noordoostpolder municipality for the development of an application center. In addition to the measures from the national crisis structure, this represents an important step towards better spreading the pressure on asylum reception in the Netherlands.