Silja reception boat is a ‘pressure cooker’ of violence and infectious disorders, doctors warn

The Silja cruise ship, on which nearly two thousand refugees stay in Rotterdam, is a « pressure cooker » where violence, threats and possibly abuse occur. Children in particular should disembark as soon as possible. Doctors of Healthcare Asylum Seekers write this in a letter of fire to the COA reception organization, who is responsible for the reception boat together with the municipality. The health service regulates care in reception centers.

The COA says that the letter was sent by general practitioners and nurses who work on the ship and says they ‘take’ very serious’ concerns. The municipality of Rotterdam also received the letter this week, says a spokesperson.

The Silja is one of the largest refugee reception centers in the Netherlands. There are refugees with a residence permit waiting for a house in South Holland. On the boat, the status holders share ship huts of about two by three meters, often without windows. Initially it was agreed that a thousand refugees would live on the boat for a maximum of a year and a half, but now twice as many people live and the boat remains at least until 2026.

NRC Last month described complaints from residents about the living conditions on the Silja. Responsible alderman Faouzi Achbar (Think) below Opposite the Rotterdam city council, perhaps « not the most ideal » place, but « good » enough as temporary care. Last December was the aldermanhe said, « sincerely proud of the shelter. « We do this for municipalities throughout South Holland. It is fantastic how we realized that here. »

Behavioral problems

The brigade letter appears to be a different opinion from the ship’s medical staff. « This boat is not a suitable and safe care, especially for children and young women, » the doctors write. Children only hang on the boat. Their parents often turn out to be ‘too tired, exhausted or traumatized’ to supervise. At the same time, they live in too small rooms, which makes it constantly impossible. The children are exposed to ‘too much physical and verbal violence’. Doctors also suspect that the children abuse each other ‘mutually’. They do not mention where they do on goals and how often this occurs.

For several children, behavioral problems have been found, the doctors write. Similar signals would arrive at the Center for Youth and Family. The Healthcare and Youth Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health is Large worries for a long time About children in Coa-Nood locations.

How many alarm bells still have to go off before this degrading situation is terminated?

According to the letter, young women are ‘not safe for single young men’ on the ship. Women who share a room keep watch for each other, « so that they are not suddenly attacked by men from another deck. » Doctors often do not hear anything about possible incidents: « Because nothing is said from shame. »

Minorities from Syria, such as Christians and Alawites, are bothered by fellow countrymen according to the letter on the ship. Signals of ‘radicalization’ were also taken care of. For example, an IS flag on board would have been mentioned.

Tuberculosis

Sources of NRC confirm the concerns from the fire letter. A companion on the boat, who wants to remain anonymous, is mainly concerned about the nearly four hundred children on the Silja. For a few months they would not have their own playground outside the ship. According to the supervisor, the waiting times for primary school are also rising.

The boat also prevails on ‘serious hygiene problems’, the letter says. « Infectious disorders such as scab, flu, chicken pox and norovirus spread easily » and can hardly be combated. Tuberculosis on the boat would also have been found, a potentially highly infectious infectious disease.

The doctors warn in the letter that the Silja is « overcrowded and unsuitable as a flow location. » They argue for small -scale locations and the closing or scale of the Silja: « We are now making people sick (er). » According to the letter, colleagues see fewer problems and better integration at smaller locations.

« We have been insisting on this for months from the city council, » responds PvdA councilor Merel Vogelaar. According to her, it is important that the alderman intervenes and comes with alternatives to the Silja. « How many alarm bells have yet to go off before this degrading situation is put to an end? »

Housing market

In a response to the fire letter, the spokesperson for Alderman Achbar points to the COA. « They are responsible for health care, » he writes NRC. And: « The COA has determined that the ship is suitable for reception. » Earlier, the alderman stated in a council debate himself that the Silja would pay as a temporary reception location. « The alderman was not aware of the details of the aforementioned concerns, » says the spokesperson.

The largest lecture party is Liveable Rotterdam and he wants to get rid of the obligation to accommodate status holders. Until the time comes, says party leader Simon Ceulemans, « the Silja is the best solution to prevent the pressure on the housing market from increasing further ». His solution to the worries of the doctors is « simple, » he says: who is guilty of violence or other things, « must be removed from that boat immediately. »

Unfortunately, there are too few fully -fledged reception locations, which means that the existing shelter is also very full

In a reaction, the COA says it is in conversation with the medical staff. « The Silja is not an optimal place to stay for a long time, » says a spokesperson. « Unfortunately, there are too few fully -fledged reception locations, which means that the existing shelter is also very full. »

The reception body does his « utmost » to « absorb all refugees as dignified and safe as possible. » But: « The fact remains that a ship with small rooms where many people stay close together for a long time can ensure mutual tensions, dissatisfaction with, for example, eating and hygiene and other undesirable situations. »

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