Removing shelter tents in Ter Apel does not solve the problems with refugee reception, says Children’s Ombudsman Margrite Kalverboer in news hour† Kalverboer is sounding the alarm publicly because she saw that children were “mentally neglected” during a visit to the asylum shelter in Ter Apel this week. According to her, this has been known for months, but no one intervenes.
The pavilion tents at the asylum seekers’ center in Ter Apel were built to slightly improve the living conditions in the overcrowded emergency shelter. Today, State Secretary Eric van der Burg (Asylum and Migration) announced that the tents will be dismantled next Tuesday. According to him, from that moment on, no more than 2000 asylum seekers will be in Ter Apel.
It is still unclear where the people who are now in the tents will go on Tuesday. The COA says it does not know where these people can go. Mayor of Westerwolde Jaap Velema says he is not yet out of trouble, and would like to see “deeds are added to the word first”.
During a visit to the shelter for unaccompanied minor refugees, Kalverboer heard from the guidance that children are not woken up in the morning, “because there is nothing to do anyway”. During her visit she gave the children a pen and a notebook. “All those kids were there like that happy with. The boys and girls said: at least now we can write down what we feel in our head. There is not even such a small thing.”
More problems
According to Kalverboer, the measures mentioned around the tents do not benefit the single children. “I believe that the Secretary of State does not realize which children I am talking about. Of course the situation must change for parents who come here with their children. But the children I have seen must be heard within six days and that is happening at the moment. not. The Immigration and Naturalization Service uses much more time for the procedure. As a result, the single children, who live in neat houses, are there for far too long.”
According to Kalverboer, there are currently twice as many unaccompanied children in care as there should be. Two weeks ago there were still 250 children, while there is room for 50 children.
Kalverboer: “These children arrive in the Netherlands after a difficult journey. They may have come into contact with human trafficking or abuse. They live with enormous fears about how things are going at home. It’s all in that head. If there are no distractions, if there is no one who even has time to ask how things are going, then you only develop more problems, including psychiatric problems.”
Attention
The Ombudsman for Children says she is shocked that this has been the reality for months. “That this is normal. When I talk to a municipality, they say: this is nothing new. The ministry says: yes, we also think it is substandard. But they are the ones who have to solve it. I will raise it .”
According to her, it is important that the IND adheres to the time allowed for the procedure. “If that doesn’t happen, you have to provide education and especially attention. If no one talks to you, you will eventually go crazy.” In addition, she believes it is important for municipalities to step in. “Municipalities: please take these children in. Make sure there are places.”
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