The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers hid at least 20 violent incidents targeting minor asylum seekers from the Health Ministry, the NRC daily reported.
Reserved for asylum seekers who cause “nuisance” at regular asylum centres, the centre in Hoogeveen, a town in the province of Drenthe, resembles a prison and is strictly supervised.
However, the violence used on children at the centre had never been reported by the asylum reception agency, whether to the children’s guardians or the Health Ministry.
The agency acknowledged that it acted incorrectly in two cases, including when it did not report that a minor had a bag placed over his head to keep him under control, it said that the incidents did not result from “deliberate action”, reporting from NRC shows. The other 18 incidents were “not worth reporting”.
The Health Ministry claims it was unaware of the incidents.
Still, the reports prompted Dutch lawmakers to discuss the issue.
During question time, Volt MP Marieke Koekkoek asked State Secretary Eric van der Burg how he would fix the lack of communication that has surrounded the reporting of violent incidents in asylum reception facilities.
In response, van der Burg said he would convene with the asylum agency and the ministry to better coordinate on the matter.
EURACTIV has reached out to the asylum agency but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
(Sofia Stuart Leeson | EURACTIV.com)
Source: euractiv.com
