Five civil society organizations call on Prime Minister Mark Rutte in a letter to take control in solving the crisis in the asylum reception. “The Netherlands allows vulnerable people and children to stay in degrading conditions,” the signatories wrote in the letter on Tuesday.
“Our country allows refugee children to be even more damaged,” said UNICEF Netherlands, UNHCR Netherlands, the Dutch Association for Pediatrics, the Dutch Red Cross and the Dutch Council for Refugees.
The situation in the overcrowded application center in Ter Apel has become a symbol for the crisis in the asylum reception. But that, according to the organizations, is not the only problem.
For example, due to the many transfers and a lagging registration in municipalities, it is unknown how many children are currently in crisis emergency care. The result is that children – contrary to what the government has promised – are not given priority when moving on to suitable childcare places. “Meanwhile, everyone is pointing at each other. Nobody takes final responsibility.”
‘Improve registration, information and procedure’
The organizations are calling for the cabinet to urgently introduce the proposed legislation that makes it possible for municipalities to make reception locations available.
They also want children and vulnerable people to be given immediate priority and transferred to “a suitable environment where they can stay throughout the procedure”. Registration processes and the provision of information must improve and structural solutions must be found, the organizations write to the Prime Minister.
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