No participation needed due to emergency law
The way the decision was made and the news was announced is also a hot topic. The news was announced in the media last Tuesday and local residents received a letter on the mat with the decision.
“Because there is an asylum crisis, decisions have to be made quickly. That is why it is different from normal decision-making, there is also an emergency law that allows us to make this decision,” the mayor explains. “In total, the twelve municipalities of Drenthe have to receive 450 extra refugees and 50 come here.”
Bergsma continues: “But I understand that it surprises people and that is understandable. That is why we are organizing this evening, so that we can explain what it is.” Another walk-in evening will follow next Wednesday.
How temporary is temporary?
What will become clear this evening is that the new inhabitants will be refugees from Ter Apel. “They are people who are in the most exciting period of their lives and who apply for asylum, the IND will determine whether or not that is possible,” explains project leader Kolk. “Here they will be told what their next place to stay will be, as this will be a temporary shelter. More should become clear in mid-January.”
Are three months really three months?, many residents wonder. “That is what the government has asked of us, so that they can look for solutions during these three months,” says Mayor Bergsma. “I also really hope it’s temporary, but I can’t guarantee it one hundred percent, it’s certainly our starting point.”
“By that I mean that if there really is no other option in January, we will not put fifty people on the street in the middle of winter,” the mayor continues. “I assume the credibility of the government and of this municipality, so it might be a bit longer, but rather shorter, I would prefer that.”
Layout
Meanwhile, other local residents are walking through the building with interest to see what the intention is and what the new crisis shelter will look like. On the ground floor there is a common room, consulting rooms, room for first aid and a sleeping area. On the top floor there will be seven bedrooms and two more common areas.
“The choice fell on this building because the council of Coevorden prefers not to let people sleep in a sports hall,” says Kolk. “Nevertheless, no hotel is what we are building here, but people do have a little more privacy and comfort. It remains a crisis shelter and there will not be much luxury.”
Joy and Volunteers
Semah Moakket and her family from Syria are busy talking with an employee at a table. “My brother has arrived in Ter Apel, is it possible for him to come to this temporary shelter?”
It turns out that Moakket hasn’t seen her brother since 2011 before he came to Ter Apel. “His journey to the Netherlands took a long time and was very difficult,” says Moakket. Yet she radiates joy this evening. “I’m so glad he’s finally close, I haven’t had a family around me in all these years and it would be great if he could get even closer, even if it’s only for three months.”
Moakket then registers as a volunteer at the temporary shelter and so does her husband, she speaks good Dutch and Arabic. In addition to the two, several people have signed up as volunteers.