Retrospective: we can neither remain silent nor give up
On October 5, 2020, Dutch citizens will send an empty plane to Lesbos airport. On board there’s room for 189 people from the former Moria camp. The goal is to convince the Dutch government to start relocating a decent number of people from the inhumane conditions that European politics has brought them into.
Permission to land on Lesbos, which was given beforehand, is withdrawn mid-air, just before landing. The plane is forced to land in Athens and then ordered to leave Greek airspace. Our team from We Gaan Ze Halen (Let’s Bring Them Here), that accompanies the plane, disembarks to avoid having to return to Rotterdam with the plane.
By bus and boat we travel on to Lesbos. We see the burned camp Moria, talk to aid workers, islanders and refugees. We see the new camp. And while it starts raining on Lesbos and the new camp immediately floods, we turn to Dutch citizens and politicians with the request for evacuation and relocation. The question that is burning in everyone’s heart in the new camp: when can I leave here?
Did the action fail, because we weren’t allowed to airlift refugees into safety? READ MORE >>
Our news in English
“What was the purpose of your visit to Lesbos?” and other questions for Let’s Bring them Here.
What was the purpose of your visit to Lesbos, Greece?We came to the island to urge the Dutch Government to start relocating refugees. As citizens of the Netherlands we have raised awareness in all kinds of ways, with petitions, demonstrations, diplomacy and more. After the fire in camp Moria our government really hesitated to act. […]
Retrospective: we can neither remain silent nor give up
On October 5, 2020, Dutch citizens will send an empty plane to Lesbos airport. On board there’s room for 189 people from the former Moria camp. The goal is to convince the Dutch government to start relocating a decent number of people from the inhumane conditions that European politics has brought them into. Permission to […]
Was ‘We Gaan Ze Halen’ (Let’s Bring Them Here) a pointless action?
‘Showing them that another world is possible’ The plane of activist group We Gaan Ze Halen returned to the Netherlands without refugees. Was their action actually effective, or ultimately useless? Author: Bas Roetman, October 7th 2020, Today, they are on Lesbos to talk to refugees and refugee organizations, but tomorrow the activists of the action […]
Volunteers take a Boeing 737 and head out to Lesbos to bring back refugees
Retrieving 189 refugees from the Greek island of Lesbos early next week, and bringing them to the Netherlands. That is the goal of the Boeing 737 leaving for Lesbos this Monday morning, reports NGO Stichting We Gaan Ze Halen (Let’s Bring Them Here). Mission impossible, or…? October 2nd, 2020 The plane is set to take […]
Letter in response to Secretary of State Ankie Broekers-Knol
Dear Secretary of State, dear Ankie, On behalf of all citizens who made flights ED3040 and ED3041 possible on October 5th and 7th, and those who sympathize with this endeavour, we thank you for your response and the appreciation of our good intentions. You write that our initiative runs counter to the efforts already initiated […]
FAQ
Why an airlift?Even before the fire, the overcrowded camps on Lesvos and other Greek islands were inhumane places. Now that camp Moria has burned down, Europe must take immediate action and evacuate people. The government has to break open the ‘deal’ of Thursday September 10th to take in 100 people, and take in at least […]