Young people appeal: Mark Rutte, save the lives of refugees!

The young people of the Young Democrats (D66) and DWARS (Groenlinks) call on Mark Rutte to act to give refugees from Greece shelter in the Netherlands as soon as possible. Weather conditions in Greece have been harsh for weeks but are now starting to claim the first victims. Families are camping in tents covered in snow and ice. On the Greek islands in particular, the situation is dire. 

Since the Turkey deal in March 2016, large groups of refugees have been left to fend for themselves on Greek islands. They cannot go back to Turkey, but are not being resettled to other countries either. "Mark Rutte's look-away policy is currently costing lives in Greece," argues DWARS chair Noortje Blokhuis. "It is outrageous that nothing is still being done by our prime minister, especially as there are many asylum seekers' centres in the Netherlands that are empty." JD-vear chairman Wouter van Erkel added: "Ideally, you would like to see a strong European policy to deal with these issues, but in these circumstances there is urgency."