Worldwide, there are 20 million refugees of which 25% reside in Europe. During the past two years, fewer than 10,000 of the refugees sought asylum in the Netherlands.
At the moment, 22,000 people live in more than 45 asylum seeker reception centres (25% of the asylum seeker reception centres have been closed since 2006). Many of the refugees come from countries where violence and repression are part of everyday life. These are countries that 'generate many asylum seekers' worldwide, such as Afghanistan, DR Congo, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia and Chechnya. More than 8000 of them are children and adolescents. The General Pardon affects nearly half of the people currently living in the centres. It is expected that during the coming years, the number of asylum seeker reception centres and the number of children and adolescents housed there will remain stable or may even begin to increase again.
Problems
Problems Young refugees in the Netherlands ive in difficult circumstances. Their home is an asylum seeker reception centre, where they live in close quarters with many other families. The past has left an indelible impression on them and their future is uncertain. Refugees must deal with a number of traumatic experiences during their lives:
- Violence, war and repression, which ultimately compels them to flee their homes;
- Being forced to say goodbye to all that was familiar and all that they held dear, including their homeland, family and friends, home and possessions, job and social position;
- An uncertain asylum procedure, lack of privacy and involuntary inactivity;
- Starting a new life in a strange land.
Life in an asylum seeker reception centre
A qualitative study of children's perception of living in asylum seeker reception centres was conducted in 2003 (Nina de Ruuk and David Ingelby, Utrecht University). The study showed that the children generally feel the reception centres are unsafe and boring. They face parents and other asylum seekers with psychological, psychiatric or physical problems. They are embarrassed by their impoverished living conditions and feel that their Dutch peers and adults have little understanding for their situation. This leaves them feeling 'different'. Most of the children enjoy going to school, as it serves as a distraction and an opportunity to prove their worth.
Nevertheless, asylum-seeking children are still just children: creative children, difficult children, good athletes, talented musicians, etc. According to article 39 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, refugee children require extra care and attention. Just as all children, they have the right to an environment that is good for their health, self-respect and development. The children themselves indicate that they primarily want to be accepted and recognised, to be the same as other children and to belong.