The national crisis structure was activated this morning in consultation with the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV). “This is one of the consequences of this terrible war that Russia is waging with Ukraine,” said Prime Minister Rutte. “It is impossible to estimate how many refugees come to the Netherlands. The vast majority remain in Poland. We are therefore going to talk about financial support for Poland. But we must be prepared for more refugees in the Netherlands, which is why we are now activating the crisis structure.”
The daily consultations within the cabinet are led by Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz (Justice and Security), Rutte said. There are currently about a thousand Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands.
Rutte: “Refugee reception is a complex issue. People do not have to report to Ter Apel, they do not have to apply for asylum. But the numbers are potentially such that it calls for broader alignment when it comes to things like housing, health care and education.”
The corona crisis was also declared a national crisis at the beginning of 2020. This also happened during the flood in Limburg last summer, the tram attack in Utrecht (2019), the hurricane Irma that ravaged Sint Maarten in 2017 and the downing of MH17 (2014).