The central reception point for refugees from the war in Ukraine opened today in the RAI. Refugees arriving in Amsterdam can apply here for registration and, if necessary, receive a reception place. The refugees are emotional: “It’s very difficult. We can’t find words to describe this. We’re just waiting for it to stop.”
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Ukrainian refugees arriving in Amsterdam will be the first to be accommodated in the RAI from today. From the RAI, the Ukrainian refugees are forwarded when necessary to various reception locations in the city and beyond.
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“We are now in a good situation if we compare it with the people who have to give birth in air-raid shelters, parking garages and metro stations”
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A pregnant couple had a tough journey: “It was scary, we spent five days in the car and we drove from city to city in case I gave birth during the trip. We are now in a good situation as we compare it to the people who have to give birth in bomb shelters, parking garages and metro stations. We are very lucky that we don’t have to.”
Many Ukrainians have had to leave almost everything behind and worry about their family and friends who are still in Ukraine. A Ukrainian woman has had to leave her husband behind: “My husband has stayed in Ukraine. He works as a volunteer and helps other people who have stayed. He is not safe at all. In any case, anyone who has stayed in Ukraine is not safe at all.”
Red Cross
Today was a coming and going of Red Cross vans that picked up groups of Ukrainians from the Central station. Two Red Cross volunteers brought several families to the RAI: ”Of course they arrive in a very strange environment that they do not know. And they don’t really know what will happen to them.”
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“We are like hamsters on a racing wheel. It is a vicious circle that we cannot escape without the help of the government”
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A man from Kiev feels distraught: “We are like hamsters on a racing wheel. If we want to get work, we have to register. But to register we need an apartment, but for an apartment we need work again. So it’s a vicious circle that we can’t escape without the help of the government.”
A Ukrainian woman also wants to be able to start over: “We want to work and send our children to school so that they can get an education. We want and can be self-sufficient in order to help our society and Dutch society. To do that we need to be able to agree Close and get permission. So far we’ve had more questions than answers. And the government here isn’t quite sure how to proceed with us and our situation.”
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