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Emergency Shelters for Asylum Seekers to Remain Open Longer Amid Place Shortage

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BNN Correspondents
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Emergency Shelters for Asylum Seekers to Remain Open Longer Amid Place Shortage

Many security regions have agreed to keep emergency shelters for asylum seekers open beyond April 1, following a meeting with State Secretary Eric van der Burg @ericvanderburg in the Security Council.

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Despite this decision, the mayors expressed concern over continuing to provide proper education and care for the asylum seekers.

A single security region declined the request to keep the locations open longer, while others would like to keep them open but with modifications.

Van der Burg has promised to discuss with the cabinet whether the mayor's wish can be met. Mayors also requested the extension of regulations for third-country nationals, who are refugees from Ukraine.

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Currently, they are allowed to stay in the same places as Ukrainian refugees until March 4. However, the mayors fear chaos after this date and have asked Van der Burg for an extension.

Despite the commitment to keep emergency shelters open, there is still a shortage of reception places for asylum seekers, leading to overcrowded asylum centres and a lack of homes for status holders.

Van der Burg hopes to have 19,000 new reception places by July 1 but acknowledges that this alone will not be enough to address the shortage, especially as more asylum seekers are expected to come to the Netherlands this year.

Van der Burg is also working to limit the influx of asylum seekers.

Read more Netherland's latest news

Netherlands Asylum Seekers
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