Officials pledge better care for child asylum seekers

By Janene Pieters on February 26, 2016 - 10:34
Lebanon-Syria_border_sep13VOA_03
Refugees at the Lebanon-Syria border (Picture: Wikimedia Commons/H. Murdock). (Child asylum seekers (Picture: Wikimedia Commons/H. Murdock))

The Ministry of Security and Justice acknowledges that emergency shelters are not ideal, especially for child asylum seekers. But the central organization for the reception of asylum seekers COA is constantly working on improvements, a spokesperson for the Ministry said to broadcaster NOS.

On Thursday Children's Ombudsman Marc Dullaert published a scathing report on how asylum seeker children are treated in the Netherlands. According to him, it is almost impossible to have a normal family life in an emergency shelter.

"That the conditions in a number of emergency shelters are not like we usually have it, is clear" the spokesperson said to NOS. "We did what we could because the need was very high. We want to avoid not being able to offer people a bed."

The Security and Justice Inspectorate is currently investigating the conditions in the reception centers and the COA is constantly working on improvements, according to the spokesperson.

Tags: