Social Media in and Around a Temporary Large-Scale Refugee Shelter in the Netherlands

Abstract

During the 2015 refugee crisis in Europe, temporary refugee shelters arose in the Netherlands to shelter the large influx of asylum seekers. The largest shelter was located in the eastern part of the country. This shelter, where tents housed nearly 3,000 asylum seekers, was managed with a firm top-down approach. However, many residents of the shelter—mainly Syrians and Eritreans—developed horizontal relations with the local receiving society, using social media to establish contact and exchange services and goods. This case study shows how various types of crisis communication played a role and how the different worlds came together. Connectivity is discussed in relation to inclusion, based on resilient (non-)humanitarian approaches that link society with social media. Moreover, we argue that the refugee crisis can be better understood by looking through the lens of connectivity, practices, and migration infrastructure instead of focusing only on state policies.

From Struggle to Resilience: Understanding the Communication Orientations of Refugee Communities in Indonesia on Instagram

“…However, it does not stop them from trying to speak about their plight, thanks to the advanced development of technology that gives existence to social media. The current global humanitarian responses to refugees has seen a growing critical interest in the uses of communication technology such as social media [6,14], including in allowing them to contact with family and friends abroad, find resources for support, and expressing themselves [4,15]. In a report for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), it was shown that refugees prioritize Internet connectivity over food, education, and healthcare because they view it as important [3].…”