The municipality of Helmond removed Ukrainian families with children from the shelter in Helmond on Thursday. Things have not been going well at the shelter for a long time. A group of residents complained about a culture of fear and strict rules. Another group of residents believes that things are well organized in the shelter in a former school building. But there are doubts about how the municipality of Helmond has handled the move. Refugee Council says it is not okay with the way of working. The CDA in the city is considering an emergency debate.
Vluchtelingenwerk thought this move was a good plan. The idea is that the families can make a new start in a different place. It concerns three families, with a total of ten children. According to Vluchtelingenwerk, it is not uncommon for people living in shelters to have to move due to tensions. That can often be a relief. Peace can then return to the shelter, where 280 people live.
But the families were only informed on Tuesday evening by a letter from the municipality. This is owned by Omroep Brabant. The three families were told to move on Thursday. According to volunteers who assist the families, a move has never been an issue before and has never been discussed with the mothers or the children. The children had to say goodbye at school on Wednesday.
“It is not a punishment, it is intended as a solution to a bad situation.”
Vluchtelingenwerk has informed the municipality of Helmond that it is not okay with the way of working. This mainly concerns the municipality’s plans to move one of the families to Lelystad. “We have given positive advice about this move, but it is not intended as punishment,” says a spokesperson. “It was intended as a solution to a bad situation. It has to be done carefully and then you don’t move a family to Lelystad in a day and a half.” According to Vluchtelingenwerk, the municipality of Helmond has now adjusted the plans and the families are moving to locations closer.
“It is inhumane,” says councilor Ron Peters of the CDA about the whole issue. He is considering arranging an emergency debate. “I find it very intimidating and I am very angry about it. That’s not how you treat people. And we are also struck by the speed at which this is happening.” Helder Helmond also says that he finds it an inhumane situation.
“A move can be extremely harmful to the child”
According to lawyer Marie-Christine Alting von Geusau of Defense for Children, children must be well prepared for such a move. “And in this case that could hardly have been done carefully. A good moving check is needed. The best interests of the child must be acted upon. A move can be extremely harmful to a child. We certainly do not support communicating it so close in advance.” The families have also reported the matter to the National Ombudsman. This indicates that the Helmond case is known to the organization.
According to Defense for Children, it is more common for refugee children to be moved at very short notice. “We also have to listen carefully to the child’s story. What is the child’s opinion? If a child has fled before, a new move can bring back a very bad memory from the past. The child may start to feel very unsafe. We know that there are children who have moved ten or 15 times. It is extremely harmful.”
“Maintain peace and safety on location”
The municipality of Helmond said in a response that it is aware of the ‘major change’ for the children. The municipality says that a quick move was necessary because there were considerable tensions in the shelter. The municipality was afraid that this situation would get out of hand. “The reason for moving a number of residents to another place of residence at short notice is to maintain peace and safety at the location for fellow residents and staff,” the municipality wrote in a response. The shelter places for the families were found with difficulty, because there are not many places.
The children can stay at their current school until the autumn holidays and then start at a new school. According to the municipality, there will be a good transfer when it comes to the education of the children and in the field of care. In addition, the municipality indicates that it has had discussions about the situation with the parents.