There is great resistance in Someren to the arrival of 450 asylum seekers. A fire broke out in the night from Wednesday to Thursday in the camping farm where the asylum seekers would be accommodated for two months from Monday. The fire department assumes arson. Last month it became apparent that there is little enthusiasm for the shelter, during a walk-in evening organized by the municipality. Mayor Dilia Blok and alderman Louis Swinkels received fierce remarks and ridicule from the 150 people present.
“We have it in the Netherlands damn good,” tried alderman Swinkels. Laughter erupted from the room. “I also appeal to the humanity in Someren,” said the alderman. “We want to assist these people in the darkest two months of the year.”
When someone stated that 90 percent of Someren is against, mayor Blok responded: “Many people have also reported to me who believe that we can accommodate these people.”
It concerns a group of asylum seekers who have been traveling through Southeast Brabant since mid-July. They travel from sports hall to sports hall, where they stay for about three weeks each time. Waalre, Best, Heeze, Mierlo and Hapert have already taken care of the group temporarily. Someren wants to house the group for eight weeks in December and January. These are people who cannot go to the application center in Ter Apel and who still have to be screened.
“It’s just people like you and me.”
There was great distrust in the room. For example, the announcement that the police would be called in the event of a nuisance could count on laughter. The offer to send a security guard along with a woman who says she doesn’t feel safe: laughter. That after the end date there might be an extension for half of the group who can stay a little longer: laughter.
Project leader Paul van Dooren of the Brabant Southeast Security Region did his best to dispel the residents’ fear of nuisance and feelings of insecurity. “It’s just people like you and me. They have families. There is often a very wrong perception of asylum seekers. There are a lot of prejudices. We have people from all over the world in this group. People from Russia, Colombia, Venezuela or Africa. “
“If you say they can come and go as they please, I don’t feel safe.”
According to Van Dooren, 25 people from the group have now been sent back to Ter Apel because they did not comply with the rules. “It was about theft from a supermarket, not paying on a terrace or asking for drugs. Everything you hear from Budel is all true, but this does not play a role at all with us.” jeers.
Female residents are concerned about the comment that the asylum seekers can come and go as they please. “It’s not a prison,” said mayor Blok. Paul van Dooren offered a security guard if someone did not feel safe: “But practice shows that they are never used.”
“Apparently Someren wants to be the best boy in the class.”
“We receive more people than other municipalities and also for a longer period of time,” said a man from the audience. “Apparently Someren wants to be the best boy in the class.”
As with other walk-in evenings, the question arose why it could not be done on a smaller scale. “You can also start with fifty people who integrate,” said one woman. “Then you add fifty and the first group can educate the new people a bit.”
Another resident wondered why not all 21 municipalities in the region accommodate 20 people. “Then you may be able to let people stay longer and you have much more support.”
Project leader Paul van Dooren said he would be happy to look at these proposals: “All kinds of options are being looked at for a more permanent shelter, but we’re just not there yet.”
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