“Independent research would be good.”

Things have improved in Avondfried, after we as a regional radio service paid attention and asked questions about the reception and orientation of Ukrainian refugees there. The municipality of Bergen op Zoom has addressed a number of issues, especially from a practical and utility perspective. However, the culture of fear that has developed among some residents has not yet been removed. More efforts must be made with these complaints, according to the Dutch Refugee Council.

We submitted our findings, presented in what has now become a series of articles, to the Refugee Council's National Information Department. They looked through the file for us (see below) He reached a number of results.

Increasing unrest

What is happening in Bergen op Zoom is not unique. That is, unrest is also growing among Ukrainians in other reception sites, says press officer Anna Karadarevich on behalf of the Dutch Refugee Council. The explanation can be partly guessed. Many of the buildings in which these people were housed were not actually suitable for such a long stay. Moreover, since there is no prospect of improvement, tensions between residents and site managers sometimes increase.

Investigate complaints

Regarding the specific situation in Avondfried, the spokesperson says: “Refugee Action has limited contact with clients and for this reason we have not received this type of signal.”

This does not change the fact that the organization rejects our journalistic signals and findings, on the contrary. It is important to apply complaints procedures correctly, in accordance with the guidance of the Ministry of Justice and Security. But in this case, more efforts must be made, Karadarevic wrote: “It would be good if there was an independent investigation into the complaints.”