Ukrainian refugees arriving in Poland increasingly want to move on to the west. They mention ‘specifically the Netherlands and Germany’, said State Secretary Eric van der Burg (Asylum).
Van der Burg heard this from his Polish colleague, whom he spoke to this morning about the reception of refugees from Ukraine, that refugees intend to continue their journey. “For example, because they have no family or friends in Poland.” In the Netherlands, more than 7,200 Ukrainians are currently being cared for and 21,000 places are available.
“Poland can and still wants to arrange reception”, the state secretary stated during the weekly Question Time in the House of Representatives. The redistribution of refugees in a European context, which GroenLinks insisted, is “not an issue”, according to him.
Host families
Both the House and the State Secretary expressed their respect for private individuals who open their home or holiday home to refugees. Van der Burg is consulting with the Ministry of Social Affairs about an expense allowance for people who take refugees into their homes. The refugees themselves also receive living allowance.
Host families are first screened by the organization Takecarebnb, which mediates between host families and refugees. This is to prevent someone from taking advantage of the situation. There must also be at least one room available. “A bank is not enough,” says Van der Burg.
Linking, this site wrote on Saturday, is delayed. It takes, says CDA MP Hilde Palland, too long before individuals who want to take refugees into their homes are matched. According to Van der Burg, the matching takes longer because at least one family member from a host families must have a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG). “Now we have to wait for the VOG, after that the matching can take place.”
The CDA has been arguing for a special ‘reception ambassador’ for some time, someone who coordinates the reception of Ukrainians. But according to Van der Burg, such a reception ambassador has ‘no added value’.
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss a thing from the stars.
#State #Secretary #Refugee #Ukrainians #travel #Netherlands