A number of major aid organisations have written to Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte and other European leaders urging a rethink on the way Europe is dealing with asylum seekers.

The EU is on the verge of agreeing a deal with Turkey which would effectively close Europe’s borders to all but acknowledged refugees.

In the letter, organisations such as Oxfam Novib and Save the Children say the decisions taken by the European Council earlier this month have ‘perpetuated the confinement of people and discriminatory practices’.

While border management is essential, the organisations say, closing borders is ‘not the answer to managing the arrival of refugees and migrants in Europe. People, not borders, are in urgent need of protection.’

The letter is accompanied by a direct appeal to Rutte urging him to show political leadership and to ‘leave the path’ taking Europe away from its key values.

‘It is time for Europe to put human rights at the centre and ensure there are safe and legal ways’ that people can find safety, the appeal states. The Netherlands currently holds the revolving chairmanship of the EU and has made solving the refugee crisis a key issue.

EU ministers are due to discuss the refugee crisis on Friday.