Ukrainian refugees arriving at the former shelter in Utrecht's Jaarbeurs were handed a letter advising them to find their own accommodation. The letter from the Utrecht Safety Region added, "If this is not possible, we advise you to try in another country."
The Jaarbeurs shelter was originally meant to provide temporary relief for refugees before they moved to longer-term housing. Due to overcrowding and inadequate facilities, including insufficient sanitation and privacy, the shelter became overwhelmed.
Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma, head of the Utrecht Safety Region, acknowledged that asking refugees to arrange their own accommodation is "far from ideal." While refugees can seek help from local municipalities, available space is scarce. Volunteers are still present at the shelter to assist those in need.
The spokesperson emphasized that while the shelter in Utrecht is full, Ukrainian refugees should still be able to find support and shelter in other municipalities across the country.
Source: NOS