Hundreds of people slept outside the overcrowded asylum seekers center in the Netherlands from Thursday to Friday. Residents of the village of Ter Apel and other places in the north of the country protested against the “overwhelm” of the community by the asylum center. They carried banners with texts such as “We are fed up”.
The hygienic conditions in the area around the center near the village of Ter Apel on the border with Germany have been untenable for weeks, aid organizations criticize. The Dutch government promised help: the cabinet was “occupied with nothing else”, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Thursday evening, according to ANP news agency.
“Terrible situation”
Rutte described the situation in Ter Apel as “terrible”. Late Thursday evening, the Central Board for the Admission of Asylum Seekers (COA) brought about 150 refugees from the area of Ter Apel to Apeldoorn, 150 kilometers away, where they were housed in sports halls for four days. After that they have to move to a living space in Doetinchem in the south of the Netherlands.
baby died
The European Commission has now called on the Netherlands to conduct a thorough investigation into the death of a three-month-old baby in Ter Apel, the ANP reports. The child died on Wednesday in a sports hall that has been set up as emergency shelter.
To determine the cause of death, the judicial and health authorities had already launched an investigation before the EU’s request. According to the ANP, an EU spokesperson said he is aware of the “challenging situation in the reception center in the Netherlands” and is ready to support the country.
“Real refugees okay. Down with troublemakers!”
In Ter Apel, several hundred people protested against the “overwhelm” of the community by the asylum center on Thursday evening. They carried banners reading “We’re fed up” and “Real refugees ok. Down with troublemakers!”
The cause of the crisis is not a large influx of refugees. This is stable at around 43,000 people per year. But after austerity measures at the immigration service and the closure of asylum seekers centers, there is now a lack of places and waiting times are increasing, says Frank Candel, chairman of the Dutch refugee organization.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
