Press Release
The Dutch Refugee Policy from a Different Perspective

For months on end there is a structural shortage of shelters for refugees, which led to hundreds of refugees living in inhumane situations whereby they are forced to live outside, without sufficient food, drink and sanitary facilities. Recently, even a three-month-old baby died. Although it is not clear how the baby died, the fact remains that the living conditions in the shelter are poor. There is no prospect of this problem being solved in the foreseeable future. Even Doctors Without Borders (MSF) came to help because they concluded that the conditions at the application center in Ter Apel are so severe that they will provide medical and psychological aid to refugees. The fact that an aid organization that offers emergency aid in areas of conflict, like natural disasters or outbreaks of deadly diseases, is a blemish on the Dutch refugee policy. As Judith Sargentini, director of MSF the Netherlands summarized, “This is not a refugee crisis, it is a policy crisis.”

There is a policy crisis that not only manifests on the local level, but more so on a national level, since it is the national level that is responsible for adequately managing the immigration- and refugee policy. This policy is simple; counter the stream of refugees, less sheltering and discouragement to come to The Netherlands, except for their Ukrainian brethren. The Netherlands consistently maintains a policy whereby the reduce the number of shelters, the budget for sheltering refugees and reduce the number of staff. If we compare this with the reality that around Europe and the rest of the world, numerous conflicts and crises are occurring that continuously bring about a flow of refugees than one could say this policy was bound to fail. It is as if one attempts to dive in the water without getting wet. Denying this reality, or to desire a Netherlands free from refugees will not change the reality of the refugee crisis.

This short-sighted politics in which the reality is being denied can also be seen in other aspects of the immigration and refugee crisis, and that is the share of the Netherland and other western countries in the current refugee crisis. This is not or amply discussed while numerous western military coalitions in which The Netherlands take part were against countries where the bulk of the streams of refugees come from. Consider Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia and Mali. The infrastructure of all these countries were shot the pieces and life practically made impossible forcing people to flee and resort to safer places that will provide them and their families more future perspective. This makes the Netherlands and other western countries simply accomplices to the great flow of refugees.

Another important question within the immigration and refugee issue is silently watching how western allies like the US, France and England pursue their colonial ambitions and wreak death and destruction in countries in Africa. By consistently toppling governments, setting up peoples against each other only to assert their dominance and install corrupt leaders that will secure their economic and political interests. This brings about a corrupt system with corrupt leadership that does not serve the public but their own interests. This creates a breeding ground for corruption, nepotism, despair and lack of future perspective, causing people to search for their prosperity and happiness elsewhere.

The refugee crisis is the inevitable consequence of the foreign policy of the capitalist west and her interventions, meddling and colonial ambitions in these countries. The immigration and refugee policy of The Netherlands is also tailored to this capitalist vision and colonial policy. Sheltering refugees is not viewed from the aspect of human dignity but as a necessary evil, the refugee viewed as a potential threat. Therefore, the cabinet has decided to address the sheltering of refugees through a national crisis organization team which is coordinated by the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV). Welcome to The Netherlands!

Okay Pala
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir
in The Netherlands