“At the moment, coordination is paramount”, said Eicher when asked about the procedures to take in refugees from war-torn Ukraine. He believes some of the administrative steps can still be simplified to allow quicker access to potential infrastructure. Different municipalities have already fallen back on booking hotel rooms to take in refugees, he further noted.
Even though Ukrainian war refugees are automatically granted the status of applicant for international protection in the EU, follow-up procedures have still room for improvement. Eicher thus stressed the importance of working with experienced help organisations to guarantee a smooth transition.
In Mamer, local officials have also chosen to book motel rooms for refugees. Showing this level of solidarity costs the municipality between €15,000 and €20,000 per month, the Syvicol president explained. The initiative is scheduled to last until June at least. During that period, the government will provide three hot meals per day and send care takers to look after the refugees.
People who have decided to take in Ukrainian refugees can contact SICA, an organisation that helps provide clothing and toys to those in need. SICA can be reached via email (info@sica.lu) or via phone (30 78 381).
