Much more desire to resettle refugees today than in 2015 – NRK Norway
In 2015, war broke out in Syria and many risked their lives fleeing across the Mediterranean en route to a safer life in Europe. Among those who came to Norway that year was the Kurdish Dilovan Al-Hussein.
– I had family members here, and then I heard that Norway was one of the best countries, with freedom of expression and safety, with less racism and above all an idea of the future and education,” he says.
Now he is ready to apply for citizenship. But Norwegian municipalities were not as eager to take in refugees when Delovan arrived as they are today.
In 2015, NRK asked all the mayors of the country if they were ready to welcome refugees. We did the same when the war in Ukraine broke out.
Both surveys showed that there is much more openness to resettling 35,000 Ukrainians today than there was to settling 10,000 refugees in 2015:
At the same time, there is a greater desire to consider the settlement of up to 100,000 Ukrainians than was the case for the settlement of 10,000 refugees from other regions in 2015.
Mayors were also asked how they thought such a by-law would affect residents’ attitudes towards immigrants and refugees in the municipality.
The responses here showed that there is a much greater belief that the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees will create a positive attitude towards refugees and immigrants.
Today, the Norwegian authorities plan to welcome up to 60,000 people from Ukraine.
Two important reasons for the difference
When refugees arrived in large numbers in 2015, municipalities built a reception and integration system and were trained to receive many in a short time.
This is one of two reasons why Norwegian municipalities are now more optimistic about opening the doors wide to Ukrainian refugees, says sociologist and migration researcher at the Department of Social Research, Jan-Paul Brekke.
I think it’s because you see that they are the ones who need protection and the vulnerable groups come first. There is a clear need for help. Then there was the emergency since 2015, and municipalities were ready to accept more than they were allowed to pay. It means a need and an urgency collide, says Breck.
In 2015, there was also a change in mood as the year progressed. It had to do with the fact that there was a lot of pressure on the countries and the mass of refugees was not as evident as it is now. As a result, the willingness to help has diminished, Breck believes.
– It was more difficult to know who came from Syria, Afghanistan and other countries. This time it is very clear which group will come.
Three municipalities to settle a lot now
At Grimstad in Agder She is Beate Skretting from the Conservative Mayor. They have now been asked to settle 150 refugees. This confirms what the researcher says about the 2015 experiment.
What we experienced then taught us a lot, especially by receiving so much in such a short time. She explains that we have a good service for refugees and that we have done a good job of integration.
She also thinks the mood is good among the people of Grimstad
– Among other things, we asked for furniture for housing refugees, and then there was a good response. Skriting says there are also many who would like to volunteer and create meeting places for refugees.
In the municipality of Sola in Rogaland This is Tom Henning Sylthe from the Progress Party. They were asked to settle 110 refugees from Ukraine.
Shelthey has no doubt that the situation in Ukraine qualifies to open Norway’s doors.
– This is one of the things that FRP has meant from the beginning, that it is important to help those around. What most people feel is that it is close, and a threat to democracy and the whole of Europe.
He rejects that openness to refugees today compared to 2015 has anything to do with culture or religion.
Neither the Muslim nor the religion is decisive. It’s close, it’s well planted in the program of the FRP party.
small mountain municipality of Skjåk Inside, with a population of two thousand, there are already 111 immigrants from 21 countries. They are now being asked to install 15 Ukrainians.
Mayor Edel Kevin of the Center Party feels it is his duty to help those who want to come to Norway.
– This applies, whether in Ukraine or in Sudan, we must help those who are fleeing. We have a good experience with those who lived here before, they are well integrated. The only thing, she says, is that they often leave the municipality when they pursue their studies or receive higher education.