Official complaint at the Ombudsman: don't take away tents!
MIGREAT AND DOORBRAAK FILE A COMPLAINT AT THE OMBUDSMAN: 'TAKING AWAY TENTS IS UNHEARD OF'
2-2-2023. Backed by lawyers of PILP-NJCM, MiGreat and Doorbraak file a complaint with the Nationale Ombudsman after the municipality took away the tents of people with no other means of protection from the elements who thereafter had to spend the night outside of the registration center in Ter Apel.
In the late summer of 2022 hundreds of people that wanted, and had, to register at the IND's registration center in Ter Apel were forced to spend multiple nights outside. Sometimes even in the pouring rain. The government was not able to provide them with the necessary means for human treatment. They had no other option.
As was concluded by the Healthcare and Youth Inspection the cold, the rain and the lack of hygiene that they were exposed to led to a risk for their health and wellbeing. This was later published by NOS in january 2023.
A variety of organizations and individuals, including MiGreat and Doorbraak took action by providing shelter in the form of tents to all people without a shelter in August and September of 2022.
These were repeatedly confescated by municipality and police, while they offered no alternative means of protection from the elements. While authorities stated this was intended to preserve the safety of people in these areas, the NOS later revealed that this was intended to up the pressure for the national government and surrounding municipalities to expand their capacity to take up refugees.
Roos Ykema (Chair MiGreat): 'It's unheard of that municipality and police took away tents of people in Ter Apel that where therefore forced to stay outside. Especially now that it turns out that the resulting human suffering was weaponized by politicians to push their own agenda. We are deeply worried by the enormous shortage of places to stay, and we fear that people will again be forced to stay and/or sleep outside. Tents will then again be vital. Taking away the shelters of poeple with no alternative place to stay is a violation of human rights.
Earlier MiGreat and Doorbraak filed a complaint with the police unit of the provice of Noord Holland and the municipality of Westerwolde. Both authorities, however, refused to take any further steps and did not reply to any of these complaints. Police even claims it was uninvolved in taking away tents while we have video evidence showing their apparent involvement.
2-2-2023. Backed by lawyers of PILP-NJCM, MiGreat and Doorbraak file a complaint with the Nationale Ombudsman after the municipality took away the tents of people with no other means of protection from the elements who thereafter had to spend the night outside of the registration center in Ter Apel.
In the late summer of 2022 hundreds of people that wanted, and had, to register at the IND's registration center in Ter Apel were forced to spend multiple nights outside. Sometimes even in the pouring rain. The government was not able to provide them with the necessary means for human treatment. They had no other option.
As was concluded by the Healthcare and Youth Inspection the cold, the rain and the lack of hygiene that they were exposed to led to a risk for their health and wellbeing. This was later published by NOS in january 2023.
A variety of organizations and individuals, including MiGreat and Doorbraak took action by providing shelter in the form of tents to all people without a shelter in August and September of 2022.
These were repeatedly confescated by municipality and police, while they offered no alternative means of protection from the elements. While authorities stated this was intended to preserve the safety of people in these areas, the NOS later revealed that this was intended to up the pressure for the national government and surrounding municipalities to expand their capacity to take up refugees.
Roos Ykema (Chair MiGreat): 'It's unheard of that municipality and police took away tents of people in Ter Apel that where therefore forced to stay outside. Especially now that it turns out that the resulting human suffering was weaponized by politicians to push their own agenda. We are deeply worried by the enormous shortage of places to stay, and we fear that people will again be forced to stay and/or sleep outside. Tents will then again be vital. Taking away the shelters of poeple with no alternative place to stay is a violation of human rights.
Earlier MiGreat and Doorbraak filed a complaint with the police unit of the provice of Noord Holland and the municipality of Westerwolde. Both authorities, however, refused to take any further steps and did not reply to any of these complaints. Police even claims it was uninvolved in taking away tents while we have video evidence showing their apparent involvement.