State Secretary Eric van der Burg (Asylum) reports this on Wednesday evening after consultation with fellow ministers on Wednesday evening. Van der Burg 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.”
2300 people in the picture
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.
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 2300 people in the picture. “But what we don’t know is how many people are currently with friends and family,” says Van der Burg.
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.