We Are Here is a self-organised refugee group in Amsterdam.
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE VLUCHTGARAGE
DONATIONS OF MATERIALS:
Raaed: 06 - 84 17 67 81
SPEAKERS/ PRESS:
1. el mouthena: coordinator - 06 85602714
2. Alula - 06 84016043
3. fuad - 06 85327442
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE VLUCHTHAVEN
Bayissa
Oumar
Thomas
It is possible to donate money for us to live: Bank IBAN:NL39INGB0000609060 of Stichting XminY, Ref. We Are Here
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We Are Here, for our Right to Exist
Refused refugees living on the streets of the Netherlands struggle for life. Since 2007 the asylum policy in the Netherlands started to change. At the moment refugees who have been rejected are no longer entitled to basic rights such as shelter and food. Even when it is impossible to return to their countries of origin, the Dutch government argues that they can leave voluntarily. Denying them access to reception centers, putting them in prison and forcing them to survive in parks, railway stations and insecure hiding places, that is the way to convince them to leave this country. On European level the asylum policy also forms a problem for refugees. Most people of We Are Here are not allowed to stay in The Netherlands, cannot go back to their own country, but can also not move to another European country, due to the Dublin II agreement.
This self-organized action by the refugees has highlighted a humanitarian problem that has been growing for years and was hidden from the public eye. Now these people have made themselves visible and seek solutions by entering in dialogue with civil society and democratic representatives. To realize their aims they need to be together, safe and visible. In the mean time they inform the Dutch citizens about their situation, do political lobby and demonstrate for their rights.
The history of We Are Here
Garden of the Diakonie (Center of Amsterdam), 4 sept - 25 sept 2012 (3 weeks):
We Are Here started on September 4, 2012 with some tents in the garden of the Diakonie in Amsterdam. A handful people came together to seek for shelter. There the idea started to make themselves visible and to start a demonstration. They got their inspiration from the demonstrations and Tentcamp in Ter Apel and also by the Arab Spring.
Tentcamp Notweg (New-West - Osdorp), 25 sept - 30 nov 2012 (2 months):
The group got national attention by starting a tentcamp in Osdorp, where it grew to around 90 people and attracted a lot of media and supporters. It was a very cold winter and the people lived in leaking tents only warmed up by the hot cofee and tea that was brought by some neighbours constantly. We saw a new phenomena: demonstrations organised by refugees. On November 10 a big demonstration walked through the city of Amsterdam from Dam to Stopera. It inspired many. The eviction of camp Osdorp at November 30 resulted in the arrest of all refugees. Most of them were 'released' or actually put back on the very cold street again on the same evening. Some of them were put in prison.
Vluchtkerk: (West - Bos en Lommer), 2 dec 2012 - 31 may 2013 (6 months):
The next 'home' of we Are Here was the Vluchtkerk (refugee church) a squatted empty church that was turned into a cold but at least dry shelter with approval of the owner. This location attracted new media and new supporters. Churches, mosks, organisations and volunteers came to offer support and also supportive lawyers became involved. There were performances by well known Dutch artists like Anouk and Ty Phoon and the We Are Here band performed in the church and also in other venues like Paradiso. Letters were written to the group members in prison. The biggest demonstration took place in this period. Under the name of Refugee Action 2013, 2500 people from the whole country, including refugees from AZC's and supporters, gathered at the Vluchtkerk and marched to Museumplein.
Vluchtflat (New-West - Slotervaart), 31 may - 31 sept 2013 (4 months):
Vluchtpark (New-West - Slotervaart), 15 jul - 24 sept 2013
When the group had to leave the church, to everyone's big surprise the buses from Theaterstraat showed up and took the people to a newly squatted place. This was the Vluchtflat (Refugee Flat) where people finally got their own private or shared rooms. This period included summer and Ramadan and also a well deserved break from continuous actions. Still some people realized that action should continue, because life in the Vluchtflat was still far from normal life. A group of people initiated an action at Dam square and Stopera (City Hall) where they slept outside in the rain. Several were arrested but others went to another squat, the Vluchtpark (Refugee Park). Also in this period the No Border Camp in Rotterdam took place, where people of We Are Here told their stories, created networks with people from other countries and showed solidarity with the refugees in prison.
Vluchtkantoor / Vluchtschans (Center), 3 okt - 2 dec 2013 (2 months):
When the group had to leave the Vluchtflat again, they received night-by-night shelter from churches and squat movement. After a few days a new home was squatted for them - this time in the middle of the center of Amsterdam, opposite of the Rijksmuseum. This became the Vluchtkantoor (Refugee-office) or Vluchtschans at the Weteringschans. It was nice to be so close to the center, so that related activities in the Balie and Paradiso could easily be attended. The owner, however, immediately started a court case and the refugees decided not to go to court and to leave the building. At the end of October a ruling from European Commission ECSR stated that authorities should give shelter and food to refugees. It is still unclear how the Dutch government will put this advice into practice. Lawyers and human rights organisations are working on this issue.
Vluchthaven (Zuid), 2 dec 2013 - ???
Vluchtgarage (Zuidoost), 13 dec 2013 - ???
After the eviction of the Vluchtkantoor, the group got dived for the first time. Part of the group was allowed to take shelter in a former prison for six months (Vluchthaven at the Havenstraat). After a lot of discussion in the group (mainly because of the trauma's many refugees have with prisons and also because of the risk of splitting up), people decided to sign out of fear for being put in real prison. Most people that signed, were however not allowed to go in, because they were not in a certain list. For some people (women and sick people) temporary shelter was found. The others were literally back on the street again. Day by day volunteers tried to find shelter for the group for one or two nights. Finally a new place was squatted: the Vluchtgarage in Amsterdam Zuidoost.