The municipality of Borger-Odoorn will receive 150 refugees over the next three nights who cannot go to the overcrowded registration center in Ter Apel. The temporary shelter takes place in the Hunsowhal in 2e Exloërmond and is intended to prevent asylum seekers from having to spend the night outside. The sports hall has 150 sleeping places.
With this measure, Borger-Odoorn wants to contribute to relieving the pressure on reception capacity in the neighboring municipality of Westerwolde. According to Mayor Jan Seton, the temporary shelter also prevents refugees from being forced to spend the night outside at the registration center.
Due to the crowds in the registration center in Ter Apel, only vulnerable people have been accommodated there since May 20. Others are taken to another location in the evening to spend the night. Municipalities around Ter Apel have so far taken on that task. For example, beds were set up in a conference center in Groningen, an event location in Warffum and Gieten and Stadskanaal came to the rescue.
Last weekend, around 2,100 people slept in Ter Apel. That is a hundred more than allowed. Successively 45, 60 and 92 slept in Warffum. A few stayed overnight on the grass in front of the registration center by choice.
In 2e Exloërmond, the refugees arrive at the Hunsowhal every evening between 10:00 PM and 11:30 PM and return to Ter Apel the next morning between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM. The care ends on Thursday morning.
Red Cross employees are present to provide guidance and support to the refugees. In addition, security is arranged both during the day and at night. The municipality has furnished the sports hall together with the Red Cross for temporary shelter.
Local residents of the Hunsowhal have been informed in advance about the temporary emergency shelter via a residents’ letter.