The crisis emergency shelter in Wervershoof will stop as of May 1. But what about the more than 200 asylum seekers? It was previously said that emergency shelter would then stop and a permanent shelter would be sought, but there is no solution yet. Until now, authorities have mainly remained silent or pointed to other responsible parties. However, it appears that a temporary shelter is still being sought in West Friesland after May 1.
The end date was already set, but suddenly the municipality of Medemblik came again this week with confirmation. This is to contradict the rumors in Wervershoof that the group of refugees would stay longer. “It was clearly communicated from the start that the crisis emergency shelter in Wervershoof was temporary, so nothing has changed,” Mayor Michiel Pijl said in a press release.
Crisis emergency care would actually stop
But where should the group of refugees go? Last October, just before the opening of the shelter in Wervershoof, the mayor announced that it would be the last time that such a crisis emergency shelter would be available. It was already the sixth location in a year and a half. “It’s sad that people have to move to a different location every few months,” said Michiel Pijl at the time.
But now the municipality of Medemblik is keeping silent. We are told by a spokesperson: “The municipality stands by the press release.”
Then the North Holland North Safety Region. For almost two years, the agency was the fuel between the municipalities in the search for new locations. But when we ask what will happen now to the more than 200 asylum seekers, the security region suddenly distances itself. “We are not aware of it. We refer to the municipalities in West Friesland.”
COA actually asks for extra shelter places
The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) has announced that they are ultimately responsible for the reception of asylum seekers if there is no new place for them. But the spokesperson also points out the great pressure there is currently on asylum reception. And that municipalities are called upon to accommodate more refugees then agreed.
It is still unclear what the seven West Frisian municipalities will do. Mayor Monique Bonsen of the municipality of Koggenland, but also a coordinator in the region, says that discussions are now being held about this. In which there is again talk about extending emergency crisis shelter.
Consultation about a new place for asylum seekers
“This question is now acute. We have had good discussions about it. There is no concrete proposal yet, but we are looking at a new location,” says Bonsen. In the meantime, the implementation of the dispersal law is also being examined. The West Frisian municipalities must submit a proposal before November 1 on how to do this will receive more than 1,200 asylum seekers.
Concerns at COA: 5,500 shelter places too short
The number of asylum seekers in Ter Apel must be below 2,000 before February 20, otherwise the COA will have to pay 15,000 euros per day to the municipality of Westerwolde, which includes Ter Apel.
Because there is a national shortage of 5,500 reception places at the end of March, the refugee organization is calling on municipalities to receive more asylum seekers than agreed, to take the pressure off.