Westerwolde has welcomed the opening of a temporary shelter for asylum seekers in Ter Apel but warns that the additional capacity may not be enough if arrivals increase again.
The temporary day shelter will open on Wednesday in a vacant office building. It will allow newly arrived asylum seekers to wait there until space becomes available at the registration centre.
The Red Cross will also resume providing assistance to refugees. The organisation had suspended its activities because volunteers could no longer work safely in Ter Apel. The decision followed several incidents involving aggression from men who have little chance of being granted asylum. These incidents took place on the lawn outside the asylum reception centre.
Westerwolde said it remains concerned that a large group of disruptive asylum seekers is still staying in Ter Apel.
According to the municipality, these asylum seekers should have been distributed more evenly across the country. “That would have made the situation in and around the registration complex more manageable,” it said.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
