The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) expects eight hundred new emergency reception places in the coming months, the organization reported on Monday. The COA had requested a total of 2,600 places from eight provinces in preparation for “the usual” summer peak.
The COA is being offered eighteen hundred fewer places than the agency requested in July. “Whether this number is sufficient to fully accommodate the peak depends on the number of people applying for asylum in the coming months,” the organization said in a statement.
In the summer months, more people always apply for asylum, the COA knows from experience. The peak lasts until the fall. “This requires extra capacity and space at our locations.”
The COA asked the provinces of Gelderland, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, and Zuid-Holland for 325 extra emergency reception places per province. “To prevent us from having to surprise municipalities with urgent questions by that time,” according to the COA.
The eight provinces do not meet the number of reception places agreed upon in the Distribution Act. That law should ensure that asylum seekers are better distributed across the country. The COA continues to talk with the provinces to see if more places can be added.
Emergency reception locations are at maximum occupancy
The COA is dealing with full reception locations. For example, the regular and emergency reception locations are at their maximum occupancy. This is partly because status holders are “gradually” moving on to housing due to the tight labor market.
It was also often too crowded at the application center in Ter Apel. Since November, no more than the maximum number of two thousand people have been staying there.
“At the moment we can still offer everyone a bed,” a spokesperson told NU.nl. But she emphasized that the organization “has shortages anyway.” According to the COA, the full reception locations cause tensions and unrest, which means that children in particular are less well cared for and supported.