There is great unrest about the fate of hundreds of Surinamese stranded in the Netherlands due to the corona crisis. Financial, mental and physical problems and disturbing stories from the home front raise tensions in many families, the victims say. AD. The security service of Suriname is aware of the problems and will have a group of two hundred people fly back to Suriname next Monday.
In total, about 900 Surinamese have yet to be repatriated. The majority of this group is located in the Netherlands. Many have been imprisoned for weeks. “My wife had an accident in Suriname and now I can’t be with her to support her,” said Sham Ramsoebhag, a filmmaker by profession. He tried to book a return flight home last month, but that was no longer possible due to the lockdown in Suriname.
,, Despite the lack of my family and the situation at home, I have a good place where I am. But that does not apply to everyone. My goal is to stand up for the large group of victims who are heavier and who experience major housing problems. ”
‘I worry’
The stranded Surinamese have been living in the Netherlands since March 14 and cannot go home, because the airspace has been closed by the government. In a private Facebook group and in a WhatsApp group chat, hundreds of fellow sufferers have daily contact with each other and share solutions and their concerns. Harrowing stories about sick relatives, heavily pregnant wives and depressed feelings follow each other at a rapid pace.
“I very much hope that my mother can join the first flight, because she is a sugar patient and suffers from high blood pressure,” writes one of the many victims on the Facebook page. Her mother came to the Netherlands to celebrate her birthday. “She says she’s only going on with her current medications for a week. I am terribly worried, because if she doesn’t take anything for a day, she immediately feels sick. ”
“People are getting depressed”
According to Narsingh Balwantsingh, councilor for the PvdA in Rotterdam, and the acclaimed theater writer Guus Pengel, the Surinamese are left to their own devices. They hope to increase pressure on the government in Suriname through media attention. That is essential, according to Sham Ramsoebhag.
The uncertainty and daily disappointment is becoming unbearable to say the least Sham Ramsoebhag, filmmaker
“People become depressed, have low self-esteem and struggle with suicidal feelings. The uncertainty and daily disappointment is becoming unbearable, to say the least, with problems piling up all the time. Sometimes until late at night I continue to encourage victims to be strong, but I notice that many Surinamese are really burned out. “
Suriname lawyer Irene Lalji comes to the same conclusion. She is also stranded in the Netherlands and sees unrest in the community increasing. “There are the sick. There are old people, pregnant women and people who can no longer receive childcare from their families and are forced to borrow money, ”the lawyer tells Suriname Herald.
Get well soon
The National Security Directorate promises to improve the situation and states that it wants to bring the Surinamese back as soon as possible. The country will bring back the first two hundred inhabitants on Monday. These are the most urgent cases, such as pregnant women. Upon arrival in Suriname, everyone will have to quarantine for fourteen days in a location designated by the government.
More than a week ago it was still the case that the returned persons could also be quarantined at home. However, that meant that they would have to pay almost 1000 euros. With this money, the government would hire guards to ensure that returnees do not leave their homes.
Criticism
After much criticism of this way of working, the government decided to only allow government quarantine and to temporarily suspend repatriation. The government needed extra time to create sufficient quarantine areas.
All measures to combat the coronavirus in Suriname will remain in effect for the next 14 days. This is necessary because many people still enter Suriname unchecked every day, said President Desi Bouterse last weekend.
The main measures are a curfew between 8 pm and 6 am, a ban on gatherings of more than 10 people and the closing of borders for neighboring countries.
Source : AD
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