Ukrainian refugees held a protest in front of a reception center at the Harskamp military base in the Netherlands due to living conditions, according to the local portal GLD.
The protesters complained about poor food, education, and medical care. “We live here like in the army. We have no privacy,” says one of the refugees. In addition, participants of the action note that military exercises are taking place nearby.
Refugee children go to school only twice a week. At the same time, one of the girls living in the center said that they had learned “just a few words.” In general, the refugees emphasize that Harskamp is suitable for a short-term shelter, but they have been at the base for more than a year.
The municipality acknowledged that there are grounds for people’s complaints. According to the authorities, about 330 people currently live in Harskamp, this number will grow to 360-370 in the near future. “More people lived there, but this is no longer possible from the point of view of the circumstances. We are trying to achieve the perfect combination between quality of life and privacy, as well as caring for people in need,” the municipality said.
The authorities are currently working on equipping kitchens for residents of Harskamp so that they can cook for themselves, the municipality said. The authorities explain that the site belongs to the Ministry of Defense, so it takes time for interdepartmental approvals to improve it.
According to UN estimates, as of April 11, 2023, more than 8.1 million refugees from Ukraine are already living in Europe. Of these, about 5 million requested the appropriate status or other protection under state programs.
Source: Rosbalt
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