20240226 Bijdrage Inspreker 04 Emma - Engels

Goedenavond, Good evening everyone, My name is Emma, I am a refugee and right now I live in the shelter behind the town hall Thank you to the friends who gave me this opportunity to speak here on behalf of the refugees. First of all, we thank the kind people of the Netherlands and the support organizations whose management and efforts we have seen around the clock. Especially the kind humanity of the residents of Nuenen in the past month. It is very understandable that some people do not have a good idea and feeling towards a refugee and a new AZC. Especially if you have not yet had a pleasant meeting with an asylum seeker. Maybe for that reason, a faithful immigrant has sometimes been treated like a thief, in a shop or public place. But fortunately not in Nuenen. Humans may not act always well in every role and position and this has nothing to do with the definition of a refugee. A refugee is not equal to a thief or dishonest. in fact, a refugee means a stateless person. Doubtless most refugees are truthful, honest and even highly educated and have a home and family. Due to various reasons, such as war or discrimination and threats or violence of their human rights, they have been forced to leave all their material and spiritual assets and seek help and refuge in another country to save their lives, or to fulfil their basic human rights.

We are sorry for the chaos on earth, which makes you and us afraid and unhappy on both sides of this story, but unfortunately, it is not your will or ours, and it is out of your and our control. We only wish and pray that one day peace and justice will rule the world, so that no one will be offended by an uninvited guest in their home and no one will be chased away from their home, beloved family and even homeland. We all are the inhabitants of the earth and we are obliged to respect the rights of humans, animals and nature in order to establish peace. I am sad that we have to leave Nuenen in a few weeks, now that we have made some new friends and got to know our way around this lovely and safe village. Thank you for your attention and hospitality. I wish you all the best. Please give us shelter.