UNHCR Baltic and Nordic Headlines (uutiskirje)

[Roope]

Thursday 30 June to Friday 1 July 2011



Denmark

UNHCR keeps an eye on Pind after press conference
The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR will keep a close eye on the Danish Minister for Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs Søren Pind and his handling of a dilemma that concerns the UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. During a press conference last Thursday Pind said he was faced with a dilemma, since stateless persons have the right to Danish citizenship, even if the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) considers them a threat to national security. Stateless persons have this right, since Denmark is signatory to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and has to follow its guidelines. Pind has asked the other political parties for advice.  – We are following the development and are ready to provide any necessary advice, says Hans ten Feld, UNHCR Regional Representative for the Baltic and Nordic countries. – I do not expect that Denmark will in any way act in contradiction with the convention. The convention is very clear when it comes to national security: A person who has been convicted of crimes against national security is not entitled to the rights described in the convention, says Hans ten Feld. He underlines that this needs to be based on a conviction. Suspicions don't apply to the convention. The political parties have been summoned to the Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration this Friday to present their views to Minister Pind.
Politiken 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBE0Eu
Information 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBF0Ev
Jyllands-Posten 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBG0Ew
Berlingske 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBH0Ex
DR 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBI0Ey
DR 29 June 2011 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBJ0Ez
TV2 ØST 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBK0E1
Folketidene 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBL0E2
B.T. 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBM0E3
Politiken 1 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBN0E4

Forced return of Somalis put on hold
The Refugee Appeals Board will postpone the deportation of some 60 rejected asylum-seekers from Somalia until further notice. In addition to this, some 17 cases are suspended. The decision follows after a recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) stating, for the first time, that the level of violence in an area can pose too high a risk for an asylum-seeker to be sent back home to his or her country of origin. The judgment concerned a case where ECtHR overruled the UK's decision to deport two Somali citizens convicted of serious crimes. The court ruling said there will be a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights if the men were sent to the war-torn capital Mogadishu. In Denmark the ruling affects some 60 rejected Somalis, who will be permitted to stay in Denmark for the time being. ECtHR's ruling is not final. The UK can still appeal for the case to be re-examined.
Jyllands-Posten 30 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBO0E5
Berlingske 30 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBP0E6
DR 30 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBQ0E7
DR 30 June 2011 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBR0E8
Politiken 30 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBS0EA
TV2 Nyhederne 30 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBT0EB
Folkebladet 30 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBU0EC
B.T. 30 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBV0ED
Folketidene 30 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBW0EE

Finland

Turku cuts down on accommodation for asylum-seekers
The Finnish Immigration Service will decrease the number of beds at the Turku Pansio reception centre's group home for unaccompanied minors by three. This year 120 persons have sought asylum in Turku, which is approximately 20 a month. Previous year a total of 800 persons applied for asylum in Turku, which is over 70 persons a month. The head of the Turku reception centre Jaana Sikiö thinks that the temporary reception centre in Paimio might be closed. On the whole of Finland the amount of asylum applications has decreased by approximately 40 per cent.
YLE 1 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBX0EF

Norway

Sentenced Nigerians deported from Norway
There has been a joint deportation to Nigeria from Norway and other European countries. It was the first deportation from Norway under the European Union Agency Frontex. Nine out of the 14 deported had been sentenced for serious crimes, and apart from one female they were all single men. Overall less than 50 rejected asylum-seekers were returned from Scandinavia as well as Hungary, France, Germany and Austria. The plane with the rejected asylum-seekers landed in Lagos, where the asylum-seekers were taken care of by the Nigerian authorities.
Aftenposten 30 June 2011 (in Norwegian) http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBY0EG

Police clears the tent camp in Oslo
Police has taken action to clear the tents from the vicinity of the Cathedral in Oslo. The tents have been known to be the residence of paperless Iranians and Ethiopians, who set up the tents as a campaign to get attention to their problems. The tents are closer than five feet from the Cathedral, and hence pose a fire hazard. Six hours after the removal, however, some Iranian asylum-seekers were back with fireproof tents. The Ethiopians affirmed they will do the same. – I'm going to be here and mark our point of view, with or without tents, one of the demonstrators said. The authorities stated the fire hazard was the reason for the removal of the tents, not problems with the people who live in them.
NRK 30 June 2011 (in Norwegian) http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBZ0EH
Dagsavisen 30 June 2011 (in Norwegian) http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBZ0EH
TV2 30 June 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBa0EO

Norway accepts more refugees from Libya
Norway accepts 300 refugees from Libya, which is more than any other neighbouring country. European countries are reluctant to accept refugees. So far Denmark is going to take 10, Slovakia 8 and Bulgaria 4 refugees. Hence, Norway's intake of 300 refugees makes up one-third of the total number of refugees that have been accepted to Europe so far. According to the UN 3,000 persons are in need of emergency protection, and UNHCR has appealed to European countries to accept more refugees. Furthermore the Minister of Justice and the Police Knut Storberget encourages all the European states to do the same as Norway and help those in need.
TV2 30 June 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBb0EP

Sweden

Easier for persecuted authors to receive asylum
It should be easier for authors who face persecution and threats in their home countries to get safe haven in Sweden. Previously exiled authors who were offered safe haven in Sweden got a temporary residence permit valid for one to two years. After these had lapsed they were forced to leave the country, if they did not apply for asylum. The Swedish Migration Board is now changing the rules. The authors will now receive a residence permit that entitles them to work, and thus makes it easier for them to get a residence permit after their initial permit runs out, if they can prove that they can support themselves. The changes do not mean that these authors are guaranteed asylum.
Svenska Dagbladet 29 June 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBc0EQ
Sveriges Radio 29 June 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBd0ER
Svenska Dagbladet 29 June 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBe0ES

The Aliens Act does not need to be rewritten
On Tuesday 28 June a report from the Parliamentary Ombudsman stated that the Stockholm Police has unlawfully sent people back to their home countries because they had begged. Maria Ferm from the Green Party and Ulf Nilsson from the Liberal Party, both agree with the report. The Police should no longer send people back on these grounds without having to make changes to the Aliens Act.
Sveriges Radio 29 June 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBf0ET

Stranded quota refugees
Approximately 150 Palestinian quota refugees from Iraq, who have received refugee status in Italy, are currently at a mansion in Munkedal, on the western coast of Sweden. The Swedish Migration Board uses the mansion to house large groups of asylum-seekers, who are waiting for a decision if they get to stay in the country. – Right now the refugees in Munkedal are desperate, says Monza El-Sabini who volunteers as interpreter. El-Sabini explains that the families are terrified to return to Italy, where they were granted refugee status and that they want to apply for asylum in Sweden. – It does not look promising, we have been told that it is very unusual for quota refugees who have been granted asylum in another European Union (EU) country, to be given a new opportunity to seek asylum in Sweden, El-Sabini adds.
Göteborgs-Posten 30 June 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBg0EU

New laws go into effect
As of 1 July, Citizens of a non European Union (EU) country will be required to submit biometric information when applying for residence permits in Sweden. According to the Government, the aim is to fight illegal immigration and fraud.
Sveriges Radio 30 June 2011 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBh0EV



UNHCR in the news

Continuing influx of refugees from Libya
Thousands of people continue to flee Libya and cross the Tunisian-Libyan border every day. – We estimate that some 6,000 Libyans cross the border every day. In addition there are some 300 refugees and economic migrants, who mostly come from sub-Saharan Africa, says Rocco Nuri from UNHCR in Tunisia. UNHCR's office in Zarzis (Tunisia) was opened in February-March when people started fleeing Libya. There are three transit camps along the Tunisian-Libyan border, in which a total of 4,500 refugees live. – We estimate that there are some 60,000 Libyans in Tunisia due to the conflict. Most of them get by without our help, Nuri adds. Currently there are 1,500 Libyans in the transit camps in Tunisia plus thousands of people originating from Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan and other sub-Saharan countries. Rocco Nuri emphasizes that Tunisian authorities and the local population have been very generous towards the refugees.
Berlingske 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBi0EW
Jyllands-Posten 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBj0EX
DR 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBk0EY
Information 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBl0EZ
B.T. 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBm0Ea
Folketidene 29 June 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBn0Eb
NRK 30 June 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBo0Ec
Afterposten 30 June 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvSN0ZqnfK0aYE0PbBp0Ed

[Roope]

Saturday 2 July to Monday 4 July 2011


Denmark

Søren Pind is accused of misinformation
According to the Social Liberals and the Socialist People's Party, the Minister for Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs, Søren Pind, is not being truthful in the case about one or several stateless people who are thought to be a danger to Danish security. If a Minister cannot be trusted, it makes it harder for the Danish Parliament to make a decision. The issue has been brought up following the press conference that Pind held on 23 June where the Minister claimed that he was in a dilemma about a stateless person who is entitled to citizenship but also feared to be a danger to the state. However, Pind declares his innocence and states that he has not given any wrong information.
Information 2 July 2011:1 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0PjjN0EA
Information 2 July 2011:2 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0PjjO0EB
Information 3 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0PjjP0EC

A case concerning state security splits the opposition
While the Social Liberals and the Red-Green Alliance want to follow the UN Convention and give citizenship to a stateless person who is under the national Police's spotlight, the Social Democrats and the Socialist People's Party are more cautious and state their concern that the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness is 50 years old. The Minister for Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs, Søren Pind, had asked all political parties to give their views on the case by Friday 1 July. The parties now agreed that the Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs will consult with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) as well as other governments on how to handle the case at hand.
Information 1 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0PjjQ0ED

Border controls to tighten in Denmark
The Parliament of Denmark has approved the Government bill about permanent border control on its borders with Sweden and Germany. More border guards will be placed on the borders already on Tuesday, and new check-up points will be built by the end of the year. According to Denmark these measures are necessary to stop international crime and illegal immigration. The bill has received a lot of opposition both in Denmark and abroad. The European Commission will inspect whether the border controls are against the Schengen Agreement and the principle of free movement.
Berlingske 1 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0PjjR0EE
Information 1 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0PjjS0EF
Politiken 1 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0PjjT0EG
Nb. This story was also covered in Finland.
Helsingin Sanomat 1 June 2011 (in Finnish) http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0PjjU0EH
Turun Sanomat 1 June 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0PjjV0EI
YLE 1 June 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0PjjW0EJ
Hämeen Sanomat 1 June 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0PjjX0EK

Finland

Unit for unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors to close in Rovaniemi
In the city of Rovaniemi the unit for unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors will be closed in September. The five current residents will be moved to the adults' unit. Furthermore the places for adults are reduced from 200 to 100. The number of asylum applications has decreased in all of Finland, and one of the reasons is the lower number of applicants from within Europe. Ari Haaranen, head of Rovaniemi reception centre, says there could be plenty of asylum-seekers from Northern Africa, but it is too hard for them to get to Europe. The Finnish Immigration Service is following the situation and is ready to increase the number of places for asylum-seekers quickly if needed.
YLE 1 June 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0PjjY0EL



UNHCR in the news

No mass exodus to Europe
The political turmoil in North Africa and the Middle East raised concerns that Europe must brace itself for a large influx of refugees. However, so far this has not materialised. For example, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), one million people have fled from Libya this year, but only 2 per cent have reached Europe. Statistics from the Swedish Migration Board show that 247 Libyans have applied for asylum in Sweden in the past six months. The difference is marginal when compared to the figures from 2010 and 2009. Most Libyan refugees stay in Tunisia. Another trend is that the number of asylum-seekers from Somalia has decreased by more than half so far this year, compared to last year.
Svt 1 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0PjjZ0EM
Dalarnas Tidningar 1 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0Pjja0ET
Svenska Dagbladet 1 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0Pjjb0EU
Kristianstadsbladet 1 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0Pjjc0EV
Skånska Dagbladet 1 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0Pjjd0EW
Göteborgs Posten 3 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDvqA0ZqnfK0aYE0Pjje0EX

[Roope]

Tuesday 5 July to Wednesday 6 July 2011

Denmark

Immigrants rushed to apply for Danish residence before stricter rules took affect
New immigration rules that make it both easier and more difficult to gain Danish residence – depending on your country of origin came into effect on July 1.  Due to the deadline, many people tried to hand in their applications before this date. The new rules include that it has become more expensive to move to Denmark and more difficult to apply for family reunifications.
The Copenhagen Post 5 July 2011 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpl0Ei

Finland

Finland to receive refugees from Libya
Finland has informed the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) that it can offer resettlement to no more than 57 refugees from Libya and the surrounding area. The resettlement places concern refugees in refugee camps on the Tunisian-Libyan and Egyptian-Libyan border. The refugees would be received as emergency cases as part of Finland's annual resettlement quota of 750 persons. This quota entitles 100 places for emergencies. The Ministry of the Interior has already begun to look for municipalities who are willing to receive the Libyan refugees. The aim is that the first refugees will arrive within the coming months. In April Finland informed that it is willing to offer resettlement for 72 refugees from Libya under the emergency quota. However, the number has dropped since Finland has offered these places to other refugees in need of protection in the mean time.
Aamulehti 6 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpm0Ej
MTV3 6 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpn0Ek
Lapin Kansa 6 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpo0El
Vasabladet 6 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpp0Em

Norway

10 out of 23 arrested for arson in 2010 still in Norway
After the state owned reception centre "Lier Ventemottak" burnt to the ground last year when frustrated residents set it on fire, the Government promised that the arrested would be deported from Norway as soon as possible. However, a year after the incident, 10 people are still not sent back. The State Secretary from the Ministry of Justice and the Police, Pål Lønseth, states that these remaining people are difficult to send back due to different reasons. For example, one person is serving a prison sentence due to arson and three people are missing.
NRK 4 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpq0En

Suspected of smuggling asylum-seekers out of Norway
The Police in Stavanger is suspecting that a 41-year old man is helping East African women and men that have no hope of staying in Norway to get to Canada with the help of French passports. The man is thought to have managed to smuggle one person before he was caught.
NRK 5 July 2011 (In Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpr0Eo

Norway would like to implement stricter border controls
The Government wants to have stricter border controls along the Swedish border in order to reduce the number of asylum-seekers coming to Norway. Knut Storberget, the Minister of Justice and the Police, would like more policemen to patrol the Swedish border. Last year the number of asylum-seekers was reduced by 42 percent, and Storberget believes stricter border controls is one of the reasons for this.
NRK 6 July 2011 (In Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prps0Ep
NB. This story was also covered in Sweden.
Svt 6 July 2011 (In Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpt0Eq

Sweden

Few municipalities want to receive unaccompanied minors
An increasing number of unaccompanied minors receive residence permit in Sweden. At the same time few municipalities want to offer them a place to stay. – The situation is urgent, says Dan Eliasson, the Director-General of the Swedish Migration Board.  – We estimate that around 500 new places will be needed already this year, Eliasson adds. He has written a letter to all municipalities again asking them to settle unaccompanied minors. – The situation has been like this since 2007, but now it is more problematic than ever before, says Eliasson.
Dagens Nyheter 5 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpu0Er

UNHCR in the news

UNHCR calls for more resettlement places
The UN Refugee Agency has appealed to governments to receive more refugees for resettlement. Currently a total of 25 countries offer resettlement places to 80,000 refugees every year. However, this year around 172,000 refugees are in need of resettlement. This is more than double the number of available places. – Most refugees are eventually allowed to return to their home countries or are allowed to stay in the first country they flee too, but for some resettlement in a third country is the only possible solution, says a UNHCR spokesperson. Within five years it is estimated that some 720,000 refugees will be in need of resettlement.
Svenska Dagbladet 4 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpv0Es
Aftonbladet 4 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpw0Et
Skånskan 4 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpx0Eu
Yle 5 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpy0Ev
Svenska Yles Nyheter 5 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prpz0Ew

Children in Somalia die of hunger and thirst
- Violence and malnutrition in Somalia has reached unprecedented levels, says UNHCR. A quarter of Somalia's 7.5 million population has been forced to flee. Many children die of hunger and exhaustion while trying to flee to neighbouring countries. Especially two factors cause the dire situation in Somalia; the prevailing violence in the southern and central parts of the country and severe drought. In June alone, 54,000 people fled to Kenya and Ethiopia, three times the number of people who fled in May. Around 30-40 per cent of the children arriving to Kenya are malnourished. A coordinator from the UN Refugee Agency, Idris Farah, states that the situation is getting worse every day. It is especially difficult for many of the children who are severely malnourished when they arrive. Many of them die when finally reaching the refugee camps, despite getting emergency care. Humanitarian organizations appeal to the international community to give them funds so they can cover the need for food, shelter and health services.
YLE 6 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prp10Ej
Aftenposten 4 July 2011 (In Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prp20Ek
DR  6 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prp30El

One SMS message to reconnect refugees
The telecommunications company Ericsson is working together with Refugees United and the UN Refugee Agency with the application "One SMS Message" which was encouraged by UNHCR:s campaign "do 1 thing," a global campaign that was launched in time for World Refugee Day on 20 June 2011. "One SMS message" is a way to try to bring together thousands of refugees separated by war and natural disasters. It is an application where refugees can register to be part of a database and search for their loved ones.
Computerworld 5 July 2011 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDv7q0ZqnfK0aYE0Prp40Em

[Roope]

Thursday 7 July to Friday 8 July 2011

Denmark

Humanitarian aid to Somalia
Due to the severe drought in the Horn of Africa, Denmark has decided to contribute with 64 million Danish Crowns in humanitarian aid to Somalia.  The money will be directed through, among others, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). - Humanitarian assistance is arranged so as to help people in acute distress, says Peter Klansø, Regional Director for DRC in Nairobi.
Jyllands-Posten 7 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwOu0ZqnfK0aYE0PwlZ0Eu

Finland

The European Asylum Support Office is standardizing asylum processes
The European Asylum Agency's (EASO) Executive Director Robert Visser visited Finland to tell about the Malta-based agency's future plans on standardizing asylum procedures. At the moment the chances of getting a refugee status varies a lot in the EU. The agency was founded to get rid of this problem and to ensure that an asylum application will receive the same answer, whether done in Finland or Malta, for example. According to Visser the agency will not take initiatives with regard to the situation in Libya. Decisions about aid are at the discretion of the EU member states.
Pohjolan Sanomat 6 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwOu0ZqnfK0aYE0Pwla0E2

Sweden

More municipalities have to accept unaccompanied minors
Even though more and more municipalities in Skåne are accepting unaccompanied minors, there are still not enough doing so in order to keep up with the numbers that are arriving in Malmö, according to Björn Carlsson from the County Administrative Board. Today 20 out of 33 municipalities in Skåne accept unaccompanied minors, which is great progress compared to two years ago when there were only five. However, there is still room for improvement in order to meet the demand. The most acute problem is the lack of accommodation, where at least 500 places are needed before the end of this year.
Sveriges Radio 7 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwOu0ZqnfK0aYE0Pwlb0E3
Sveriges Radio 6 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwOu0ZqnfK0aYE0Pwlb0E3



UNHCR in the news

Worst drought in 60 years
The worst drought in 60 years has hit the Horn of Africa, Somalia. – It is so extreme. Our people say that they have never seen anything like this, says Melissa Fleming, Head of the Media Relation and Public Information Service at the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Geneva.  Along with the violence in the central as well as southern parts of the country, the crisis in Somalia can turn into "one of the world's worst humanitarian disasters", she adds. In the same line of thought, High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, argues that the current situation might possibly lead to a "human tragedy of unimaginable proportions".  It is estimated that a quarter of Somalia's population is displaced, both internally and in neighboring countries.
Information 5 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwOu0ZqnfK0aYE0Pwlc0E4
My Newsdesk 6 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwOu0ZqnfK0aYE0Pwld0E5
TV4 Nyheterna 6 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwOu0ZqnfK0aYE0Pwle0E6
NRK 6 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwOu0ZqnfK0aYE0Pwlf0E7
DR 6 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwOu0ZqnfK0aYE0Pwlg0E8
ABC Nyheter 6 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwOu0ZqnfK0aYE0Pwlh0EA
Aftonkuriren 7 July 2011 (In Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwOu0ZqnfK0aYE0Pwli0EB

[Roope]

Saturday 9 July to Monday 11 July 2011

Denmark

Danish Police criticized for questioning motive for asylum
The Danish Police has been criticized by, amongst others, the Danish Refugee Council, for unlawfully interrogating unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors regarding their motive for asylum in Denmark. Only the Danish Immigration Service may, in fact, ask the children for their asylum motives, as they are the ones to determine the fate of their application. Small discrepancies between the children´s  explanation to the police and Danish Immigration Service might, in reality, mean the difference between being granted asylum or being returned home. Vice Chief Constable and Director of the National Immigration Center, Ole Andersen, acknowledges that the police do inquire from the children about their grounds for asylum in Denmark.  He does, however, not find it to go against the law.
DR 10 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Ki0Eu
Jyllands-Posten 11 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Kj0Ev

Finland

Some municipalities indifferent to refugees
The regional council of Satakunta together with the regional Red Cross have taken the initiative to encourage municipalities to take more refugees for resettlement. However, so far the response has been negative. According to the project coordinator Hanna Holm from the Finnish Red Cross Satakunta district the lack of local housing, for example, has been offered as a reason. Up to now only Ulvila municipality has agreed to accept refugees as a result of the appeal.
YLE 11 July 2011 (in English) http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Kk0Ew



UNHCR in the news

Thousands fleeing the drought in the Horn of Africa daily
As a result of the drought thousands of people are fleeing from their homes in the Horn of Africa. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres has described the situation as one of the world's worst disasters, and the Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has appealed to the EU member states to ensure emergency aid for the refugees. Somalia in particular has been severely affected by the drought, and many die of malnutrition and diseases on the way to the refugee camps in Kenya and southeast Ethiopia. Guterres emphasizes that the level of malnutrition is alarmingly high and at least half of the children suffer from it. According to estimates approximately 10 million persons overall are in need of humanitarian aid. The European Union has promised nearly 70 million euros for the victims of the drought.
YLE 11 July 2011 (in Finnish) http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Kl0Ex
NRK 11 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Km0Ey

Humanitarian aid to the Horn of Africa and Sudan
Sweden has decided to contribute with an additional 30 million Swedish crowns in humanitarian aid to the Horn of Africa and Sudan, following the severe drought that has affected the area. The region has been further exacerbated by an ongoing conflict and a widespread refugee flow, particularly from Somalia to Kenya as well as Ethiopia. The money will be redirected through the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and be utilized to help people in distress, says Gunilla Carlsson, Minister for International Development Cooperation, who is currently meeting with representatives of the UNHCR in Southern Sudan. – The famine will most likely become as great as in the mid-eighties, when about one million people died. I am afraid we must prepare ourselves for this, she adds.
Expressen 10 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Kn0Ez
Expressen 8 July 2011 (9in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Ko0E1
DN 8 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Kp0E2
SvD 8 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Kq0E3
Göteborgs-Posten 8 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Kr0E4
Svt 8 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Ks0E5
Tv4 Nyheter 8 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Kt0E6
Skånskan 8 Jyly 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Ku0E7
Presskontakt 8 Jly 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Kv0E8
Webfinanser 8July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Kw0EA
Norran 8 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDwmn0ZqnfK0aYE0P6Kx0EB

[Roope]

Tuesday 12 July to Wednesday 13 July 2011


Denmark

Meeting regarding unaccompanied minors
Karsten Lauritzen, Integration Spokesperson for the Liberals, is confident that the Danish Police has acted within the law when interrogating unaccompanied minors regarding their motive for seeking asylum in Denmark. – We can have a long discussion about what questions to ask, but I think it is far more important to focus on the reason for asking the questions, he says. The purpose is to find out whether the children are telling the truth about there age as well as their family situation, Lauritzen adds. Per Ørum Jørgensen, member of the Christian Democrats, is very concerned about the inquiries and argues that differences between the children's explanations to the Danish Police and Immigration Service might in fact result in a rejection. The Minister of Justice, Lars Barfoed has been required to further investigate the matter. A meeting between the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), the Danish Red Cross and Minister Barfoed will be arranged after the summer leave.

Politiken 11 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEGq0EB
Jyllands-Posten 11 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEGr0EC
Information 11 July 2011:1 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEGs0ED
Information 11 July: 2 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEGt0EE
Berlingske 11 July 2011:1 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEGu0EF
Berlingske 11 July 2011:2 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEGv0EG
DR 11 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEGw0EH


Latvia

Latvia should express solidarity and accept more refugees
The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, requests Latvia to accept more refugees. She emphasizes that next time a war could take place somewhere closer than for example in Libya, and that Latvia should express more solidarity towards refugees. According to the Commissioner, the EU cannot force Latvia to accept refugees, but as the Latvian Government has agreed on the common asylum system in Europe, it should also show initiative in these issues and take in more refugees.
DB 12 July 2011 (in Latvian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEGx0EI

Norway

Forgotten humanitarian crises
The Norwegian press is accused of being indifferent towards some of the global catastrophes. According to a study by Leger Uten Grenser (MSF), the Norwegian branch of Médecins Sans Frontières, the Norwegian press usually only covers news and events in Norway or directly concerning Norwegians, while ignoring important international news such as the refugees from Myanmar or internally displaced in Colombia. According to MSF it is essential to draw attention to these international emergencies, to get politicians involved and to change the course of these crises.
NRK 12 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEGy0EJ
The Foreigner 12 July 2011 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEGz0EK

Sweden

Palestinian asylum-seekers on hunger strike
In Munkedal municipality in western Sweden a group of Palestinian refugees are on a hunger strike after some of them were rejected asylum in Sweden. The group of some 150 Palestinian refugees has fled to Sweden from Calabria in southern Italy where they had been resettled as so called quota refugees. However, now they have sought asylum in Sweden and refuse to go back to Italy, where they say they were subject to threats and persecution. Before receiving resettlement in Italy they lived in refugee camps in Iraq and Syria.
Sveriges Radio 12 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEG10E6
SVT 12 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEG20E7
Bohusläningen 12 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEG30E8

Asylum-seekers are denied Swedish language courses
The Swedish Migration Board (SMB) cannot offer Swedish language courses to asylum-seekers in Gothenburg in the fall. This is due to the failure of the SMB to find a company that supplies Swedish language courses. The SMB wants to solve the problem by creating an interactive Swedish course online and seeking more help from voluntary organizations. However, this takes time and it is not clear if the voluntary organizations can help more than they already do.
Sveriges Radio 11 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEG40EA



UNHCR in the news

Somalia's drought the world's worst disaster
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres visited the refugee camps in Dadaab over the weekend and met with the refugees, many of whom have arrived severely malnourished and exhausted. Furthermore, numerous refugees die while fleeing and many more after arriving at the camps. Guterres expressed great concern and called for international attention to the crisis that he believes to be one of the world's worst disasters. As a result of the drought and continued violence in Somalia thousands of refugees arrive daily to the neighbouring countries Kenya and Ethiopia. Kenyan Dadaab, the world's largest refugee complex, was built for 90,000 refugees but now has over 380,000. During the worst days in June 58 persons died in the camps during one week. According to the High Commissioner massive aid operations and funding are needed immediately.
Helsingin Sanomat 11 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEG50EB
Helsingin Sanomat 12 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEG60EC
YLE 13 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEG70ED
HA 11 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEG80EE
Berlingske 11 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEHA0EO

Kenya refuses to open a ready-built camp
A ready-built refugee camp, Ifo II, stands empty although there are thousands of new refugees arriving in Kenya. The Government authorities refuse to open it but have not yet given an official statement of the reasons. According to the President of the Norwegian Red Cross, Sven Mollekleiv, there could be many explanations to why the camp is left unused. At the same time Dadaab, the world's largest refugee complex, has over 60,000 tents outside its area. Consequently, the lack of proper access to clean water and facilities dramatically increases the risk of disease outbreaks among the refugees. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres has urged the Kenyan Government to open the new camp to meet the growing number of refugees. According to the Commissioner 1,300 refugees arrive at Dadaab refugee camps daily.
NRK 12 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEHB0EP
Nationen 12 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEHC0EQ
Politiken 11 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDw4f0ZqnfK0aYE0QEHD0ER

[Roope]

Thursday 14 July to Friday 15 July 2011

Denmark

Drought catastrophe does not lead to more asylum-seekers
In Denmark the number of Somalis and Eritreans who have sought asylum due to the drought in the Horn of Africa has remained minimal. However, in Norway the number of asylum-seekers from Somalia and Eritrea has increased. Figures from the Danish Immigration Service show that there have never been many asylum-seekers from these two countries. In fact, less than ten persons with Somali and Eritrean origin sought asylum in Denmark this year and during 2010 the number did not exceed 2 per cent. Meanwhile, new figures from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) reveal that twice as many Somalis sought asylum in Norway in the first half of 2011 than during the same period in 2010. In addition, the number of Eritrean asylum-seekers has increased with 10 per cent.
Jyllands-Posten 14 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKuq0E2

Danish People's Party wants obligatory DNA tests for all asylum-seekers
The Danish People's Party has required mandatory DNA tests for all asylum-seekers who arrive to Denmark. Marlene Harpsøe, Member of the Danish People's Party, argues the proposal is designed to retain non-Danish citizens who have committed criminal offences from coming to Denmark. - We believe DNA detection will have a preventive effect so that we do not get all sorts of unwanted elements in Denmark. We must have peace and order in the Danish society and are therefore ready to go to great lengths in order to keep criminal aliens out of the country, she says. Both Carina Christensen, Member of the Conservative People's Party, and Kim Andersen, Member of the Liberals, are very sceptical about the proposal and argue that it might be discriminatory.
Berlingske 14 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKur0E3
Information 14 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKus0E4
Jyllands-Posten 14 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKut0E5
DR 14 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKuu0E6
Politiken 14 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKuv0E7

Finland

Finnish aid organizations plea with donors
Finnish Red Cross, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Finland and Finn Church Aid (FCA) warn that tens of thousands are in danger of dying of hunger in the Horn of Africa. According to UNICEF's estimation two million children are malnourished. The organizations appeal with donors for aid, as already ten million people are in need of emergency aid. Finn Church Aid has decided to donate 300,000 euros to eastern Africa for those suffering from the drought.
YLE 14 July 2011 (in Finnish) http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKuw0E8
YLE 13 July 2011 (in Finnish) http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKux0EA
MTV3 13 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKuy0EB

Norway

Local politicians say no to planned asylum centres
Private companies want to build centres for rejected asylum-seekers in the municipalities of Strange, Ringsaker, Gausdal and Lunner. The centres would be built for rejected asylum-seekers who will be returned to their home countries. The proposition has caused a great deal of opposition from the local politicians and persons living in the municipalities. The mayor of Gausdal, Mona Brattetaule Nicolaysen, says it is wrong that those persons would only come for a short period of time and knowing they will be returned. Therefore the local communities do not want them nor the centres to be built.
NRK 15 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKuz0EC

More asylum-seekers travel home voluntarily
A record number of asylum-seekers return home voluntarily according to the statistics of the first six months of 2011. The Directorate of Immigration (UDI) explains this is due to the financial help they offer and the acknowledgment of the imminent forced return. The number of asylum-seekers who voluntarily return home after having been refused asylum has increased by 42 per cent compared to last year. So far 900 persons have returned voluntarily during 2011 with the largest group being the Iraqi. Likewise more convicted criminals are deported from the country, 474 so far this year as opposed to 283 in the same period last year. Most of the deported were from Nigeria, Poland and Romania.
NRK 14 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKu10Ex
Dagsavisen 14 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKu20Ey

Sweden

SMB is criticised by the National Board of Health and Welfare
An asylum-seeker from Afghanistan who stated that he was 17 years old was treated as an unaccompanied minor. However, later the Swedish Migration Board (SMB) found that he previously had sought asylum in Norway and that he was 27 years old according to his dental x-rays. He ended up in police detention before being sent back to Norway. According to the Board of Health and Welfare dental x-ray is an unsure method to determine a persons age, especially of a teenager, since the treatment of asylum-seekers is very different if a person has turned 18 or not. The Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy, Tobias Billström, welcomes any new advice from the National Board of Health and Welfare on how to accurately determine someone's age.
Dagens Nyheter 14 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKu30Ez
Sveriges Radio 14 July 2011:1 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKu40E1
Sveriges Radio 14 July 2011:2 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKu50E2
Sveriges Radio 14 July 2011:3 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKu60E3



UNHCR in the news

Kenya is opening a new refugee camp
Within 10 days a new refugee camp will be opened for the people fleeing the drought in Somalia. The camp has existed for some time but the Kenyan Government has been unwilling to open it due to security reasons, as well as economical reasons since the country is also suffering from the drought. However, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), among others, has urged Kenya to open the camp as the other camps are incredibly overcrowded. The new camp can house 80,000 people. Last week the Swedish Government decided to give UNHCR an additional 3 million euros to the Horn of Africa.
Dagens Nyheter 14 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKu70E4
Dagens Nyheter 14 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKu80E5
Sveriges Radio 14 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKvA0EG

World's biggest refugee camp
Thousands of Somalis flee the drought and conflict in their country, many of them aiming to the world's largest refugee complex Dadaab in north-eastern Kenya, 90 kilometres from the border. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has in recent weeks repeatedly stressed the urgency of the situation and appealed to donors and governments to react to the crisis quickly. UNHCR has appealed for 760 million USD from donors to meet the needs of the suffering people. – I have visited many camps in many countries of the world, but I have never seen people in such a desperate situation, says the UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres. UNHCR has announced that on average 1,700 refugees arrive daily to Ethiopia and 1,300 to Kenya.
Aftenposten 13 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKvB0EH

South Sudanese loose citizenship in the north
Four days after South Sudan became the world's 193rd independent state all Southerners lost their citizenship in the north. Since last October 360,000 South Sudanese who resided in the north have returned to the south, but according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) over a million South Sudanese are still up north. Dual citizenship has been ruled out and all South Sudanese working in the public sector need to get residence and work permits to be able to stay. There is a transition period of nine months during which South Sudanese have to solve the issues of citizenship.
NRK 13 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKvC0EI
ABC Nyheter 13 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKvD0EJ

UNHCR in Pakistan
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is preparing to assist tens of thousands internally displaced people (IDP's) in north-western Pakistan, where the ongoing violence has intensified. Local authorities estimate that some 84,000 people might have to flee their homes to a nearby refugee camp. - While the local authorities have moved quickly to provide tents, cooked food and drinking water in the camp, there is an urgent need to improve infrastructure with proper layout of tents, construction of latrines, washrooms and kitchens, as well as to conduct a verifiable electronic registration process, says Mengesha Kebede from UNHCR Islamabad Pakistan. - That's why we are urgently deploying expert staff to help authorities manage the situation, he adds.
U-landsnyt 13 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxML0ZqnfK0aYE0QKvE0EK

[Roope]

Saturday 16 July to Monday 18 July 2011



Norway

Palestinians protest against deportation
The paperless Palestinians who have been staying in a church in Oslo for the past 110 days protested last Friday against the Norwegian authorities that have stated the Palestinians have no right to stay in the country. During the protest the Palestinians walked to the Directorate of Immigration (UDI), the Norwegian Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) and visited some embassies to get sympathy for their cause. The protesters accuse the authorities of double standard as they discourage Norwegians from going to the Palestinian Territories while considering it is safe for the Palestinians to return there.
Dagsavisen 15 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxkS0ZqnfK0aYE0QTIi0Ev

Asylum system needs to be reconsidered
According to Per Willy Amundsen, the Progress Party's (FrP) spokesperson for immigration policy, the asylum system has evolved over time and needs to be reconsidered, as it no longer serves the ones in need. He furthermore states that through the current system we participate in financing human trafficking and other kinds of organized crime, and there is a need to stop asylum-seeking and help persons in their own environment instead. The Socialist Left Party's immigration policy spokesperson, Heikki Holmås, opposes this proposition and calls Amundsen's suggestion barbaric by pointing out that this kind of system would have left Norwegians seeking asylum in Sweden during the World War II without protection.
Dagsavisen 15 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxkS0ZqnfK0aYE0QTIj0Ew

This is how the politicians want to stop drug sales
Following a documentary by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) about drug sales in Oslo by West African men, a strong reaction is coming from the opposition. Several of the men are staying in Norway unlawfully after being denied residence permit and live off selling drugs. For example, the leader of the Liberal party, Trine Skei Grande, says it is important to be able to send an asylum-seeker back to his or her country of origin if he or she has committed an offence. Another action could be to have more police patrolling the areas of concern in order to control the situation.
NRK 17 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxkS0ZqnfK0aYE0QTIk0Ex



UNHCR in the news

Hunger catastrophe in Somalia
In the Horn of Africa, over 11 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance because of the drought. Worse off is southern Somalia, where one in three Somalis are believed to be in need of humanitarian aid and one in ten children are at risk of dying of starvation. About a week ago, al-Shaabab, the group in control of southern Somalia, allowed aid agencies to come back into the country and start distributing humanitarian aid during the drought. Kenya has also approved to open a new refugee camp and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is expecting tents to arrive during the following couple of weeks.
TV 4 Nyheterna 16 July 2011:1 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxkS0ZqnfK0aYE0QTIl0Ey
Uppsala Nya Tidning 17 July 2011:2 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxkS0ZqnfK0aYE0QTIm0Ez
Dagens Nyheter 17 July 2011:3 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxkS0ZqnfK0aYE0QTIn0E1
Expressen 15 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxkS0ZqnfK0aYE0QTIo0E2
NRK 15 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxkS0ZqnfK0aYE0QTIp0E3
Aftenposten 16 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxkS0ZqnfK0aYE0QTIq0E4
Berlingske 17 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxkS0ZqnfK0aYE0QTIr0E5
Jyllands Posten 16 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxkS0ZqnfK0aYE0QTIs0E6
YLE 17 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDxkS0ZqnfK0aYE0QTIt0E7

[Roope]

Tuesday 19 July to Wednesday 20 July 2011

Denmark

More Danish funding to victims of drought
Denmark is donating an additional 30 million Danish kroner (DKK) to the UN Refugee Agency to help the drought victims in the Horn of Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states in a press release that the situation is now so severe that extraordinary measures are needed.
TV2 Øst 18 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDx1i0ZqnfK0aYE0QZpS0Ei
Berlingske 18 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDx1i0ZqnfK0aYE0QZpT0Ej
Jyllands-Posten 18 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDx1i0ZqnfK0aYE0QZpU0Ek

Norway

Fewer asylum-seekers from Italy
In the last two months, the number of asylum-seekers arriving from Italy to Norway with the airline Ryanair has dropped dramatically. The police believe this is due to stricter border controls. In April and May this year the number of asylum-seekers arriving from Italy, mostly Somalis, peaked.
NRK 19 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDx1i0ZqnfK0aYE0QZpV0El

Sweden

Palestinians end hunger strike
A group of Palestinian refugees, previously on a hunger strike in Munkedal after having been rejected asylum in Sweden, have decided to end the strike after two women had to be taken to hospital. The Palestinians have been resettled in Italy, but have fled from Italy to Sweden to seek asylum here. The strikers stated they will resume the strike unless they get to speak to the leading representatives of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the EU Commission and the Swedish Migration Board.
Sveriges Radio 20 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDx1i0ZqnfK0aYE0QZpW0Em



UNHCR in the news

UNHCR steps up assistance in the Horn of Africa
After al-Shabaab, the group in control of Southern Somalia agreed to allow aid organizations back into the country, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) began sending in assistance packages for the victims of the drought and violence in Somalia. UNHCR has furthermore started shipping tents to Kenya and Ethiopia to help the Somali refugees. In the next couple of days approximately 30,000 tents will be flown to the camps. According to UNHCR the death rate among the refugees has been 15 times higher than normal for Sub-Saharan Africa in June with 7,4 per every 10,000 refugees dying daily. – We need more resources to help those affected by the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa, says Juni Berglund from UNHCR's Regional office for the Baltic and Nordic countries.
YLE 18 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDx1i0ZqnfK0aYE0QZpX0En
Dagsavisen 19July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDx1i0ZqnfK0aYE0QZpY0Eo
Dagens Nyheter 20 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDx1i0ZqnfK0aYE0QZpZ0Ep
Sveriges Radio 20 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDx1i0ZqnfK0aYE0QZpa0Ew
TV4 20 July 2011(in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDx1i0ZqnfK0aYE0QZpb0Ex

[Roope]

Tuesday 26 July to Wednesday 27 July 2011

Sweden

Unique refugee case in Munkedal
The group of Palestinian refugees staying in Munkedal has had a meeting with the Swedish Migration Board. The Palestinians went on hunger strike earlier this month in protest of being sent back to Italy, where they have sought and received asylum. Mikael Ribbenvik, the General Counsel of the Swedish Migration Board, says this is a unique case, but the refugees cannot be granted asylum here, as they already have a residence permit in another EU country. Ribbenvik will have a meeting about the situation with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), that was involved in the Palestinians' asylum case in Italy. However, according to Ribbenvik the meeting will not concern the possibility of the Palestinians staying in Sweden as this is not possible, but how their situation could best be handled in Italy.
Sveriges Radio 26 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmEI0Ep



UNHCR in the news

40 000 starving people fleeing to Mogadishu
In only a months time, 40 000 people have come to Somalia's capital Mogadishu, in the hope of finding food, water and shelter according to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR. Another 30 000 people have reached the camp outside the city. UNHCR believe that approximately 100 000 people have arrived to Mogadishu over the past couple of months. Not enough help reaches these people which causes panic and looting.
TV 2 26 July 2011(in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmEJ0Eq
Jyllands-Posten 26 July 2011(in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmEK0Er
B.T. 26 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmEL0Es
NRK 26 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmEM0Et
TV 2 26 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmEN0Eu
Dagsavisen 26 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmEO0Ev
Nationen 26 July 2011 (in Norwegian)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmEP0Ew
Helsingin Sanomat 26 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmEQ0Ex
MTV 3 26 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmER0Ey
Aamulehti 26 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmES0Ez
Ilta-lehti 26 July 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmET0E1
Österbottens Tidning 26 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmEU0E2
Sydsvenskan 26 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDyU10ZqnfK0aYE0QmEV0E3

[Roope]

Thursday 28 July to Friday 29 July 2011

Sweden

Additional 200 million from Sweden to the Horn of Africa
According to the Minister for International Development Cooperation, Gunilla Carlsson, aid organizations have had problems in reaching the hungry in the Horn of Africa, and there is an inherent risk that the famine will spread in the coming months. Therefore, the Government would like to add another 200 million crowns (SEK) to its assistance. With the additional 200 million crowns, the government has sent 700 million so far this year. – Sweden has a long experience in supporting aid organizations on the ground in disaster areas, says Minister for Defence Sten Tolgfors. Besides the financial contribution, the Government sends personnel from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) to help the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to build housing and an office camp for about 30 UN staff. The cost of these, estimated at 5.5 million, is financed by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida).
Aftonkuriren 29 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDylJ0ZqnfK0aYE0QtTT0EC
Newzglobe 28 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDylJ0ZqnfK0aYE0QtTU0ED
Webfinanser 28 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDylJ0ZqnfK0aYE0QtTV0EE

[Roope]

Saturday 30 July to Monday 1 August 2011

Denmark

The government contributes 85 million kroner DKK to East Africa
The Danish government has decided to give some of its aid to the World Food Programme (WFP) towards the Horn of Africa now, rather than later this year as originally planned. – This famine is as bad as the one in the 1980s in Ethiopia, and we need to do all that we can to make sure it does not develop any further, says the Danish Minister for Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs Søren Pind. The UN has declared famine in parts of Somalia where 2.2 million people are in distress and over 750 000 people have fled over the border to Ethiopia and Kenya, where refugee camps are overcrowded.
Politiken 29 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzBX0ZqnfK0aYE0Q2wM0E6
DR 29 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzBX0ZqnfK0aYE0Q2wN0E7
Avisen 29 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzBX0ZqnfK0aYE0Q2wO0E8
U-landsnyt 30 July 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzBX0ZqnfK0aYE0Q2wP0EA

Finland

Less asylum applications
By the end of June the number of asylum-seekers in Finland was 1,400, whereas last year the same number was over 2,200 for the same period. In relation to the population Sweden takes more asylum-seekers than any other country in the EU. However, in some respect more liberal Sweden is still stricter towards Iraqis; Sweden considers Iraq to be safe for returning rejected asylum-seekers, whereas Finland does not return refugees to Baghdad and the surrounding areas of central Iraq. Last year 32,000 asylum-seekers reached Sweden, over 10,000 Norway, 5,100 Denmark and 4,000 came to Finland. In Sweden the per cent for rejection of asylum was 69, while the percentage was 63 for Finland.
Aamulehti 30 July 2011 (in Finnish) http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzBX0ZqnfK0aYE0Q2wQ0EB


Sweden

No place to live
The number of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in Sweden has increased dramatically. In 2004 there were 388 asylum applications from unaccompanied minors, but last year the number had already risen to 2,393. Currently there is a lack of 500 places, and many minors stay in temporary housing for months, whereas this time should be limited to weeks.  – When the laws and rules were determined, only a handful of unaccompanied refugee children were discussed, now it's nearly 2,500 that come to the four receiving communities in Sweden. It is a system that has collapsed, states the Vice Chairman of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKL) Lennart Gabrielsson. He is furthermore urging the State to take the responsibility of the issue and to give additional assistance and compensation for the municipalities that take these unaccompanied minors.
Sveriges Radio 31 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzBX0ZqnfK0aYE0Q2wR0EC
SVT 30 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzBX0ZqnfK0aYE0Q2wS0ED
Smålandsposten 1 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzBX0ZqnfK0aYE0Q2wT0EE
TV4 30 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzBX0ZqnfK0aYE0Q2wU0EF
Skanska Dagbladet 30 July 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzBX0ZqnfK0aYE0Q2wV0EG
The Local 31 July 2011 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzBX0ZqnfK0aYE0Q2wW0EH

Doors wide open
Double the usual amount of visitors is expected to take part in the Stockholm Pride this year. "Openness" is the theme of the year and Pär Wiktorsson, the Chairman for the Stockholm Pride, highlights the problem of the LGTB (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) refugees' situation. – LGTB asylum-seekers can face persecution in their home countries or denial of asylum, he states. He says that Sweden is not always as open as generally thought.
Sydsvenskan 1 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzBX0ZqnfK0aYE0Q2wX0EI

[Roope]

Tuesday 2 August to Wednesday 3 August 2011

Finland

Research on refugee and asylum-seeker children
The University of Tampere is starting a vast research project on how refugee and asylum-seeker children aged between 5-12 months are affected by the traumas suffered by their parents. Preliminary results are expected in about a year.
YLE 2011 3 August 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzSG0ZqnfK0aYE0RAPs0EM

Finland gives further 5 million euros to the Horn of Africa
The Finnish Government has decided to give a further 5 million euros to the crisis on the Horn of Africa. The aid consists of three parts: 3 million euros for the World Food Program (WFP), 1.1 million to the Finnish Red Cross and 900,000 euros to the Finn Church Aid (FCA). Finland has given already 8.8 million earlier this year as humanitarian assistance to the Horn of Africa.
YLE 1 August 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzSG0ZqnfK0aYE0RAPt0EN

Sweden

Fewer asylum-seekers than expected
Fewer than expected are applying for asylum in Sweden this year. The Swedish Migration Board previously estimated that there will be 30,000 asylum-seekers in Sweden in 2011, but has now lowered the number to 29,000. According to the Migration Board it is hard to make predictions because of the volatile situation in Northern Africa and Middle East.
Dagens Nyheter 1 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzSG0ZqnfK0aYE0RAPu0EO
TV4 Nyheterna 1 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzSG0ZqnfK0aYE0RAPv0EP
Sveriges Radio 1 August 2011 (in English)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzSG0ZqnfK0aYE0RAPw0EQ

Most asylum-seekers in large city areas
It is not a big surprise that most asylum-seekers can be found in the largest counties Stockholm, Västra Götaland and Skåne, according to the statistics by the news agency Siren. At the time of the research, Sweden had about 33,000 asylum-seekers, compared to 35,000 the same time last year.
DN 2 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzSG0ZqnfK0aYE0RAPx0ER

[Roope]

Thursday 4 August to Friday 5 August 2011


Denmark

Politicians demand Hercules planes to be sent to the Horn of Africa
Military transport airplanes should be used in order to help millions of people, says the Socialist People's Party and the Danish People's Party. The military plane Hercules should be used to transport provisions as it can carry much more than other airlines, as well as being able to land on improvised airstrips in disaster areas. If it is decided politically, it can be done, says the communications director from the Danish Air Force.
Politiken 3 August 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzio0ZqnfK0aYE0RGYe0EP

Sweden

Scouts learn about refugees in Rinkaby
UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is present at the World Scout Jamboree held in Rinkaby, Sweden with the aim to inform the participating scouts about the world's refugee situation. Scouts can taste nutritional supplements, for example, to get an idea what it is like to be a refugee. – That is exactly the point, says Kiki Rodriguez Norman from the UNHCR. – To see, to feel and even taste makes it easier to imagine what it is like to be in the situation of many refugees.
Dagen 5 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzio0ZqnfK0aYE0RGYf0EQ

Openness required in LGBT-issues in the country of origin
Lesbian, gay, bi- and trans-sexuals (LGBT) have a legal right to seek asylum in Sweden, but often get deported regardless. According to Aino Gröndahl, a law student who has looked into LGBT-persons' right to asylum in Sweden, many who have not lived openly as LGBT-persons in their home country get sent back because the Swedish Migration Board does not consider such persons to be in danger. However, some openly gay asylum-seekers have been told they should have been more discreet about their sexuality in their home country, and therefore do not receive asylum in Sweden, she further explains.
Sveriges Radio 3 August 2011 (in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzio0ZqnfK0aYE0RGYg0ER



UNHCR in the news

Conflict threatens the delivery of aid to Somalia
The continuing violent conflict is one of the reasons for the influx of refugees, but furthermore the drought in the Horn of Africa has now spread the famine to three regions of Somalia. Moreover al-Shabaab, the group in charge of the Southern and Central parts of Somalia, is complicating the delivery of aid into the country. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) they were not allowed to leave the Mogadishu airport on Wednesday and therefore have to rely on local staff to deliver the aid. Over 180,000 persons have fled from Somalia since the beginning of this year according to UNHCR.
Expressen 3 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzio0ZqnfK0aYE0RGYh0ES
Dagens Nyheter 3 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzio0ZqnfK0aYE0RGYi0ET
Helsingin Sanomat 4 August 2011(in Finnish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzio0ZqnfK0aYE0RGYj0EU

Fleeing Somalia especially dangerous for women and children
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and other organizations are warning about the alarmingly dangerous situation of women and children fleeing Somalia. Many men stay behind to take care of the land, so women and children are not protected along the way, and furthermore in the camps as well as outside them there are reported rapes. William Spindler, the UNHCR spokesperson in Dadaab, emphasizes that many rapes are not reported. The increase in child mortality is moreover a particular worry of the aid organizations.
Aftenposten 3 August 2011 (in Norwegian) http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzio0ZqnfK0aYE0RGYk0EV

UN Refugee Agency condemns European populism
The High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday what he sees as increased political populism in Europe and elsewhere. He believes that populism contributes to intolerance and violence, exemplified by the terrorist attacks in Norway. According to the High Commissioner xenophobia and racism increase when populism takes hold.
Dagens Nyheter 4 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzio0ZqnfK0aYE0RGYl0EW
Aftonbladet 4 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzio0ZqnfK0aYE0RGYm0EX
Skanskan 4 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDzio0ZqnfK0aYE0RGYn0EY

[Roope]

Saturday 6 August to Monday 8 August 2011

Denmark

Starving Somalis receive help in cash
Denmark contributes with an additional 30 million kroner (DKK) towards the drought on the Horn of Africa. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is one of four organizations which will share this money. DRC received 10 million DKK, which will mainly be spent on soup kitchens. However, 3 million will be given to the poorest people in the Mogadishu area in cash, as they can purchase food in markets in the capital. – This will help stimulate the local market and give people their dignity back by being able to prepare their own food, says Ann Mary Olsen from the Danish Refugee Council.
Avisen 5 August 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDz720ZqnfK0aYE0RPBS0E1
Jyllands-Posten 5 August 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDz720ZqnfK0aYE0RPBT0E2

Social Liberals: New requirements hinder family reunification
Restrictions on family reunifications came into force in Denmark in July. This has had a clear effect on the number of applicants, according to several lawyers specializing in immigration matters. Since the rules came into force, the immigration spokesperson for the Social Liberals, Marianne Jelved, has received many inquiries from citizens who find it difficult to meet the new requirements. For example, the resident spouse must not have received any public benefits within the past three years, he or she must have lived in Denmark for the past 15 years and be able to provide 100 000 kroner (DKK) as collateral.
Nordjyske 6 August 2011 (in Danish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDz720ZqnfK0aYE0RPBU0E3

Sweden

The Swedish Migration Board: A passport more important than children
- We do emphasis family relationships in our decisions, but it does not override everything else, says Anders Weström, a family relationship expert at the Swedish Migration Board. In July 2010, a new law was implemented that states that someone can apply for family reunification without having to leave Sweden. However, according to the Migration Board, having a passport to strengthen your identity is more important than keeping a family together. This becomes a huge problem for Somalis who do not have a working government to issue passports or other sorts of identification. Several NGOs have tried to bring attention to the Swedish government that it in fact is in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Västerbotten-Kuriren 5 august 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDz720ZqnfK0aYE0RPBV0E4
TV 4 Nyheterna 5 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDz720ZqnfK0aYE0RPBW0E5



UNHCR in the news

UNHCR fears the spread of deadly disease in refugee camps
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) fears that a measles epidemic will break out in a refugee camp in Dollo Allo, Ethiopia, where approximately 118,400 refugees are residing. – The situation is alarming and we cannot afford to wait. We must act now, urgently and decisively, to arrest and turn around this situation, says Moses Okello from UNHCR in Ethiopia. Reports state that so far about a dozen people have died from what is thought to be measles. The disease is usually not deadly, but due to the fragile health of many of the refugees, it can have severe consequences. Vaccinations are planned to start on Tuesday.
Expressen 6 August (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDz720ZqnfK0aYE0RPBX0E6
Svenska Dagbladet 6 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDz720ZqnfK0aYE0RPBY0E7
TV 4 Nyheterna 6 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDz720ZqnfK0aYE0RPBZ0E8
Aftonbladet 6 August 2011 (in Swedish)
http://balticnordic.unhcr.se/cgi-bin2/DM/t/eDz720ZqnfK0aYE0RPBa0EG

[Roope]

Tuesday 9 August to Wednesday 10 August 2011.

Danes have donated 26 million crowns to Africa

Denmark  

Relief agencies have so far collected nearly 26 million Danish crowns (DKK) to alleviate the famine in the Horn of Africa. The two largest receivers of donations from the Danes have been UNICEF and the Red Cross, which have received 9.1 million DKK and 7.1 million DKK respectively.

   * Fyens 9 August 2011 (in Danish)

Age determining methods condemned by the Commissioner for Human Rights

Finland  

Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Council of Europe, condemns the x-ray tests in defining the age of asylum-seekers. The method is used in determining whether a person is a minor or not and it is used in Finland, Sweden, Germany and Holland. According to the Commissioner the method has been contested by various specialists and it furthermore exposes the persons for unnecessary radiation. According to the Finnish Immigration Service the x-ray is used when there is reason to doubt the information given by the asylum-seekers about their age.

   * Turun Sanomat 9 August 2011 (in Finnish)

Thousands of illegal immigrants live in Finland

Finland  

Between two and three thousand paperless persons reside illegally in Finland. According to Jouko Ikonen, Detective Chief Inspector of the National Bureau of Investigation, most are from Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan, and have mainly come to Finland through Sweden. There are also Russians who have overstayed their visas, as well as rejected asylum-seekers, students and people who work without work permits. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation had found evidence that 1,700 persons have come to Finland illegally by the end of July. Of these about 10 per cent are paperless minors.

   * Hufvudstadsbladet 9 August 2011 (in Swedish)

Crisis in East Africa has not increased the number of asylum-seekers

Finland  

According to Esko Repo, Director of the Asylum Unit in the Finnish Immigration Service, persons fleeing famine and similar emergencies usually flee to the surrounding areas. The number of asylum-seekers has fallen in all Nordic countries, and only 1,500 had sought asylum in Finland during the first part of 2011, compared to 4,000 in all of 2010. A person can receive refugee status if he or she has a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. Refugee status can be given by a Government that grants asylum or by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) acknowledging someone as a refugee.

   * Helsingin Sanomat 9 August 2011 (in Finnish)

Belarusian Natalia Radina seeks asylum in Lithuania

Lithuania  

The editor of a popular opposition portal Charter 97 Natalia Radina is one of the accused of mass riot in protest of the results of presidential elections in Belarus on 19 December 2010. Around four months ago she managed to escape from Belarus, where she would be facing a prison sentence of 15 years. She has been granted refugee status by the United Nations (UN) and has applied for asylum in Lithuania on 4 August. Radina informed about her decision in an open letter on the portal Charter 97.

   * Delfi 9 August 2011 (in Lithuanian)
   * Delfi 9 August 2011 (in Russian)
   * The Baltic Times 9 August 2011 (in English)
   * The Lithuanian Tribune 8 August 2011 (in English)

NB. This story was also covered in Sweden.

   * Svenska Dagbladet 8 August 2011 (in Swedish)
   * Norran 8 August 2011 (in Swedish)

Fewer asylum-seekers in July

Norway  

In July, 704 people sought asylum in Norway. This is a decrease from last month when 831 applications came in. So far this year, 5,415 people have sought asylum, states the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), compared to 5,418 during the same period last year. The largest group of applicants comes from Somalia (1,277). Unaccompanied asylum-seekers make up nine per cent of the applicants this year; most of them come from Afghanistan.

   * Verdens Gang 9 August 2011 (in Norwegian)

UN airlifts emergency aid to Somalia

UNHCR in the news  

After the militant al-Shabaab group announced it has pulled out of Mogadishu, a relief consignment from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) finally reached the capital. This is the first time in five years that UNHCR has been able to airlift aid to the internally displaced people in Mogadishu. UNHCR is hoping to continue the emergency airlifts in the coming days. – We just hope the situation will not deteriorate, says Andy Needham from UNHCR Somalia office. The emergency assistance consists of tents, sleeping mats and kitchen supplies to be distributed as soon as possible to the thousands of people displaced by drought and famine in and around the city.

   * SVT 8 August 2011 (in Swedish)
   * Sveriges Radio 9 August 2011 (in Swedish)
   * YLE 9 August 2011 (in Finnish)

[Roope]

Thursday 11 August to Friday 12 August 2011.

A medical clinic for paperless immigrants to open in Copenhagen

Denmark 

Paperless immigrants fear detention if they go to the doctor. Within a couple of weeks a medical clinic will open for them in Copenhagen. The clinic is a joint project from the Red Cross, the Medical Association and the Danish Refugee Council. – We want to create a safe and secure place where they can come and receive necessary treatment, says Vibeke Lenskjold, leader of the clinic. Even people who are staying illegally in the country are entitled to emergency medical treatment without any fear of being caught and sent home. – This will not happen with the new clinic, according to Lenskjold. However, it is still not clear whether the police will intervene or not.

    * Berlingske 11 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 11 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 11 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * TV2 11 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * B.T. 11 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Dansk Radio 11 August 2011 (in Danish)

Sida increases its aid to famine-stricken Africa

Sweden 

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has decided to donate additionally 50 million Swedish crowns (SEK) to relieve the crisis in the Horn of Africa. The aid will be directed particularly to women and children in Ethiopia. Some 10 million SEK will go to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and to a local fund, coordinated by the United Nations (UN). Apart from this aid, Sida has decided to donate an additional 120 million SEK during this year.

    * Sveriges Radio 11 August 2011 (in Swedish)

Somali refugees and identification documents

Sweden 

The Swedish Migration Board (SMB) has requested legal guidance from the Migration Court of Appeal on the possibility of allowing Somali children the opportunity to be reunited with a parent living in Sweden. The Court has already ruled that a law change would be required since Somali ID-papers are not recognised, but SMB is hoping for a clarification in this regard.

    * Dagens Nyheter 10 August 2011 p:9 (in Swedish)

UN evacuates staff from Syria

UNHCR in the news 

The United Nations (UN) has decided to evacuate most personnel from Syria due to the unrest in the country. Out of four Norwegians who have worked for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) only two will stay. They are based in the capital Damascus, where the situation is relatively stable.

    * Sydsvenskan 11 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * TV4 Nyheterna 11 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Dagsavisen 11 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * NRK 11 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * Verdens Gang 11 August 2011 (in Norwegian)

[Roope]

Saturday 13 August to Monday 15 August 2011.

Network of doctors is helping paperless aliens

Denmark 

The police is considering action against the planned health clinic for paperless aliens in Copenhagen. A network of health professionals has spent years helping people without residence permits. In about 12 days, a privately funded clinic will open and be run almost exclusively by volunteers and doctors. The clinic is expected to take over parts of the network's work. According to the Health Act, persons without a residence permit only have the right to be treated for acute illnesses. The network is in a grey area, as it treats everything from sore throats to cancer. Some politicians have voiced concerns over the new clinic. The Danish People's Party health spokesperson, Liselott Blixt, has called it "a provocation by organizations who don't agree with the Danish immigration policy". However, the Minister of the Interior and Health, Bertler Haarder, states that he neither can nor will take action against physicians who in their spare time help people with their acute health problems.

    * Politiken 12 August 2011:1 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 12 August 2011:2 (in Danish)
    * Dansk Radio 12 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * TV 2 Nyhederne 12 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 12 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * B.T. 12 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Avisen 12 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 13 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * The Copenhagen Post 13 August 2011 (in English)
    * Jyllands-Posten 14 August 2011 (in Danish)

No bargains about ID-requirement

Sweden 

The Swedish Migration Board has stated that it will not bargain about the requirement for an authenticated identity. According to Jonas Haglund, an administrator for the Swedish Migration Board, spouses can be granted residence permit in Sweden, but they must also have a valid passport and be able to prove their identity. Despite the fact that there may be problems in this for some nationalities, Haglund continues that the Migration Board will not haggle about the requirement, as it is the responsibility of the Migration Court of Appeal. There is, however, the possibility to appeal these decisions, he continues.

    * DT 13 August 2011 (in Swedish)

Everyone will have food

UNHCR in the news 

The crisis in the Horn of Africa is getting worse by the day. Tens of thousands of refugees are waiting outside the Dagahaley refugee camp, part of the Dadaab camp complex in Kenya. Kamahl Isa Ahmed, from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), greeted another six busses full of refugees last Saturday, while stating that the problem is that there are just too many in need of help and many have to live in the ghettos outside the camps. – At least everyone can get some food, he continues.

    * Aftonbladet 14 August 2011 (in Swedish)

[Roope]

Tuesday 16 August to Wednesday 17 August 2011

Fewer asylum-seekers returned

Finland 

Fewer asylum-seekers are returned from Finland under the Dublin II Regulation. According to the Dublin II an asylum application needs to be handled in the first country of entry. A couple of years ago a number of asylum-seekers were returned from Finland to Greece, Italy and Malta. In the beginning of 2011 Finland joined the other EU countries in the decision to stop deportations to Greece. However, Finland is still returning asylum-seekers to Italy, where the conditions are nearly as poor as in Greece. According to Marjaana Laine from the Finnish Refugee Advice Centre, the Dublin II Regulation and the Finnish law do, in fact, allow the handling of the applications in Finland. Therefore she calls for more liability from the Finnish Government in this issue.

    * YLE 17 August 2011 (in Finnish)

Progress Party member open for more immigration

Norway 

- Norway will continue to fulfil its international obligations and accept refugees, says Kristian Dahlberg Hauge, leader of the Progress Party in Trondheim. However, in the party programme it states that: "a continued immigration of asylum-seekers will lead to serious conflicts between ethnic groups in Norway." Dahlberg Hauge explains that it is an unfortunate phrasing. He believes that the Progress Party has a good immigration policy but he is critical of some his own party members who he finds have been to extreme in the debate on culture. – It is more important than ever that the established political parties dare to take the debate on immigration, says Dahlberg Hauge.

    * NRK 15 August 2011:1 (in Norwegian)
    * NRK 15 August 2011:2 (in Norwegian)
    * Verdens Gang 15 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * BT 15 August 2011(in Norwegian)

NB. This story was also covered in Denmark.

    * Berlingske 15 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 15 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 15 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Dansk Radio 15 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * MetroXpress 15 August 2011 (in Danish)

Libyans from Sweden join the fight against Gaddafi

UNHCR in the news 

Many Libyans from all over the world have gathered at the Libya-Tunisia border. They celebrate the alleged victory of the rebels over Muammar Gaddafi's forces in the town of al-Zawiya. However, the fight has required a lot of sacrifice. Many, some wounded, have fled the violence in Libya. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has an agreement with the Tunisian Government that gives the fleeing Libyans access to public health care in Tunisia, although, UNHCR also acknowledges that the agreement does not cover private clinics, which are the only places where some of the treatments are available.

    * Dagens Nyheter 15 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Svenska Dagbladet 15 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    *  Aftonbladet 15 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * TV4 Nyheterna 15 August 2011 (in Swedish)

[Roope]

Thursday 18 May to Friday 19 May 2011.

The Left Youth of Finland outraged

Finland  

The Left Youth of Finland is outraged by the secret flights of Air Finland, a Finnish airline that admitted to have flown asylum-seekers from Sweden and Norway to Iraq in January 2011. Li Andersson, the chairperson for the Left Youth of Finland, demands that the company stop the flights immediately if they are still taking place. European Court of Human Rights announced last autumn that it is against human rights to deport people to Iraq.

   * Iltasanomat 18 August 2011 (in Finnish)

Father and a son smuggling refugees

Sweden  

Two men, a father and his son, smuggled six Iraqi refugees from Italy to Austria in two cars. The final destination of both cars was to be either Sweden or Finland, but one of the cars was caught in Austria. However, the father managed to drive the refugees to Sweden. According to Thomas Ahlstrand, the Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Swedish Prosecution Authority in Gothenburg, the smuggling operations have been performed for money and been a part of business involving various people.

   * Dagens Nyheter 18 August 2011 (in Swedish)
   * SVT 18 August 2011 (in Swedish)
   * Göteborgs-posten 18 August 2011 (in Swedish)

400,000 Somali children in risk of dying

UNHCR in the news  

The British Minister for International Development Cooperation is urging the world community to make more of an effort to alleviate the situation in the Horn of Africa. Japan has promised to donate an amount equivalent to over three billion dollars to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). This money will go to the Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya, where about 440,000 Somali are currently situated.

   * Berlingske 17 August 2011 (in Danish)
   * Jyllands-Posten 17 August 2011 (in Danish)
   * Information 17 August 2011 (in Danish)

Abuses will increase in the refugee camps

UNHCR in the news  

The situation in the Horn of Africa is getting worse. Most camps are overpopulated and criminals are exploiting the chaotic situation. The United Nations (UN) has so far reported 87 rapes in the camps, but fear that the number is a lot higher.

- I think the camps will get more violent as time goes by, says Jo Hegenauer, coordinator for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)

   * Expressen 18 August 2011 (in Swedish)
   * NRK 18 August 2011 (in Norwegian)

SOS Children's Village terminates activities in Mogadishu

UNHCR in the news  

SOS Children's Village has stopped its activities in the Somali capital Mogadishu due to the armed conflict between the Islamist group al-Shabaab and Government forces. Only the most sick and a handful of staff are left at the SOS Children's Village hospital in Mogadishu. The organization was prepared for the termination, and is going to move to a temporary camp in the so-called Afgooye corridor. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), however, the living conditions in the camp are extremely difficult.

   * Dagens Nyheter 18 August 2011 (in Swedish)

Diseases spread at the refugee camps

UNHCR in the news  

The United Nations (UN) is warning that the child mortality will increase dramatically in the refugee camps in Ethiopia. Apart from the serious problem of malnourishment, measles and polio are spreading among children. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) the death rate of 10 children per day dates back to June, which means that at least 500 children have died in the last two months. Ron Redmond, UNHCR spokesperson in Nairobi, says that the high mortality rate is partly due to the fact that parents do not know what do with their malnourished children.

   * Lääkärilehti 17 August 2011 (in Finnish)
   * Dagsavisen 18 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
   * Information 19 August 2011 (in Danish)

[Roope]

Saturday 20 May to Monday 22 May 2011.

Denmark sends several millions to Africa

Denmark 

Denmark is immediately donating 50 million crowns to the Horn of Africa. This is because the current relief is insufficient to cover the enormous humanitarian needs in the area, according to the Minister for Refugees, Immigrants and Integration Søren Pind. – Every day nearly 1500 new refugees arrive to the already overcrowded camps in Kenya, he continues. 30 million crowns will be given to UNICEF and its efforts to help vulnerable women and children, and the remaining 20 million will be sent to the UN humanitarian fund for Somalia, which has just run out of money. Denmark has now donated 250 million crowns in total to the Horn of Africa in 2011.

    * Dansk Radio 19 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * TV 2 Nyhederna 19 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Berlingske 19 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 19 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 19 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Landsbrugs Avisen 19 August 2011 (in Danish)

Sick illegal immigrants reject at Danish hospitals

Denmark 

According to a thesis from the Copenhagen University, it has been documented that people with cancer and mental illnesses have been told that they cannot get help from hospitals. The authors of the thesis have had in-depth interviews with 14 health care professionals on how they handle undocumented immigrants. It appears that doctors feel caught in a situation where they go against their promise as professionals to treat all and not discriminate. The study shows that there is a limit for help in the public system for illegal immigrants. For example, cancer is not considered to be an acute illness as one is sick over a long period of time. The question is whether acute illness should be defined so narrowly.

    * Politiken 20 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * TV 2 Nyhederna 20 August 2011 (in Danish)

Stateless children losing out on citizenship

Denmark 

Stateless Kurds are not being registered as stateless. It has been shown that authorities have wrongly registered stateless Kurds which means that the issue of statelessness is larger than assumed. Søren Pind, Minister for Refugees, Immigrants and Integration, does not want to comment on the size of the situation. He only confirms that there is something wrong with the immigration authorities' registration of stateless people. The error in registrations means that children of stateless people are losing out on their right to Danish citizenship. Pind has said no when asked if he will correct the situation for the Kurds from Syria who may have been wrongly registered.

    * Information 21 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 22 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Information 22 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * B.T. 22 August 2011 (in Danish)

Libyan refugees to Raseborg

Finland 

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) announced in July that Finland will take 57 refugees from Libya under emergency arrangements as part of their yearly quota of 750. The search for suitable locations started immediately, and it is now being investigated whether the city of Raseborg could accept 20 refugees during the autumn. The discussions on the matter are held on Monday.

    * Västra Nyland 19 August 2011 (in Swedish)

Asylum-seekers receiving training in Norway

Norway 

The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) has entered into an agreement with seven local suppliers on providing training to asylum-seekers whose asylum applications have been rejected. The pilot project is planned to last for a year and will include 25 reception centers. The aim is to ensure the asylum-seekers will have better possibilities in finding employment in their home country on their return. Furthermore UDI believes the training will motivate the asylum-seekers to return voluntarily. Currently there are 4,000 rejected asylum-seekers residing in Norway

    * NRK 19 August 2011 (in Norwegian)

Plane came back with asylum-seekers

Norway 

A booked charter plane with denied asylum-seekers was not given permission to land and had to return to Oslo. All together, 266 people were suppose to be on the specially chartered plane to Nigeria. Denied asylum-seekers from six European countries were about to board the plane, accompanied by 32 Norwegian police officers and including 15 Nigerians that were suppose to be sent back. The Nigerians, however, came back to Oslo as the plane for Lagos, Nigeria never left Dublin because the landing permit was suddenly withdrawn. The Police Immigration Unit is now looking for an alternative solution.

    * Verdens Gang 19 August 2011 (in Norwegian)

[Roope]

Wrongly registered stateless people are not getting help

Denmark 

Despite calls from the opposition and the Danish Refugee Council, the Minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Søren Pind does not want to determine the extent of the Danish authorities' errors in registering stateless Kurds from Syria. Pind has in a confidential briefing to the Danish Parliament Citizenship Committee made it clear that he has told the Danish Immigration Service to pay more attention to register asylum seeker's nationality correctly. The Danish Refugee Council, however, says that it is not enough just to correct the mistake in future registrations. The errors in registrations can be revoked, but the stateless Kurds themselves have to go to the authorities.

    * Information 21 August 2011 (in Danish)

Migration to take the blow of budget cuts

Finland 

If the budget proposal of the Ministry of Finance is approved, the budget for the reception of refugees and asylum-seekers will be cut down to 80 million euros, a drop of around a quarter. Furthermore the Finnish Immigration Service would face cuts. However, the Ministry of Interior is asking for an additional 5 million euros to keep the reception centers running.

    * Turun Sanomat 22 August 2011 (in Finnish)
    * Ilta-Sanomat 22 August 2011 (in Finnish)
    * YLE 22 August 2011 (in Finnish)
    * YLE 22 August 2011 (in English)
    * Helsinki Times 23 August 2011 (in English)

Refugees from Libya on their way to Norway

Norway 

Norway will recieve 310 refugees from the war in Libya. Most of the refugees that will be resettled come from Somalia and Eritrea, as well as Ethiopia, Congo, Ivory Coast and Sudan. For many Africans in Libya, life became unbearable when the civil war broke out. According to the Norwegian newsagency (NTB), none of the refugees are ethnic Libyans. The main reason is that most Libyans will be able to return back home when the conflict is over, as opposed to those who already were displaced from their country of origin. The Norwegian government has decided to take an additional 250 refugees above their usual UN quota.

    * Dagsavisen 23 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * NRK Nett-TV 23 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * Fjordaland 23 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * Verdens Gang 23 August 2011 (in Norwegian)

Refugees rarely find employment

Sweden 

Only three out of 55 refugees in Västerås have found employment since the Swedish Public Employment Service took over the primary responsibility of finding jobs for adult refugees. The work includes a range of measures, such as the procurement of services from private companies or organizations who can help the refugees find jobs. Until the end of last year it used to be the obligation of the municipalities to help refugees find employment.

    * Sveriges Radio 23 August 2011 (in Swedish)

Municipality to take more unaccompanied minors

Sweden 

The municipality of Hylte wants to increase the number of places for unaccompanied refugee minors. Currently it has an agreement with the Swedish Migration Board of taking in eight minors per year, out of which three places are reserved for asylum-seekers. If the influx of minors continues at the same rate it is now, there will be a need of total 16 places by the end of the year.

    * Hallandsposten 24 August 2011 (in Swedish)

The West must do more

UNHCR in the news 

Libya is facing enormous challenges in the transition to what will hopefully become a free and democratic society, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). – The country must get through a difficult reconciliation process, and it is important that all parties are invited to participate, said Scales from NRC. Before the uprising, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) had registered over 8000 refugees and 3000 asylum seekers in Libya. UNHCR is aware of  thousands of others with a possible need for protection from conflict-torn countries, such as Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan.

    * Aftenposten 23 August 2011 (in Norwegian)

[Roope]

Thursday 25 August to Friday 26 August 2011.

A Red government wants to clean up registration mistakes

Denmark 

If the majority changes after the upcoming election, a new 'red' government wants to investigate the extent of the errors in registrating stateless people and contact the possibly faultily registered asylum-seekers from Syria. The message from the opposition is that if the Minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration, Søren Pind, does not want to clean up the error, the new government will. One of Pind's reasons behind not doing so, is that all decisions by the immigration authorities have to be reviewed, and there are at least hundreds of thousands of them.

    * Information 23 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Information 25 August 2011 (in Danish)

The Danish Refugee Council in Libya

Denmark 

While the fighting is raging in Tripoli, the civilian population a few hundred kilometers west of the Nafusa region on the border to Tunisia are trying to create an everyday life with the help of the Danish Refugee Council. Here about 60,000 people have been displaced since the rebellion broke out in February. – It will take years rather than months before the daily life of the civilians will be normal again, says Scott Tind Simmons, an advisor for the Danish Refugee Council. Right now the Council, in cooperation with other international aid organisations, is handing out basic relief in the form of water, blankets, kitchen utensils and soap to around 15,000 people in the region.

    * Berlingske 24 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * B.T. 24 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 24 August 2011 (in Danish)

Only one illegal person venture to the doctor

Denmark 

A pregnant woman who wanted to know where she could give birth, and a homeless Dane who had lost his medical card and therefore could not get help elsewhere, were the only two who came into the new Health Clinic in Copenhagen on its first day. The Clinic is the first of its kind in Denmark, as illegal immigrants can get medical help here. – We expected it to be quiet in the beginning. It is all new and it takes time before people trust that they can use it, Vibeke Lenskjold explains, the project manager of the Health Clinic.

    * TV 2 Nyhederne 25 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Berlingske 25 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * B.T. 25 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 25 August 2011 (in Danish)

Double the quota refugees

Denmark 

Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen and the Red-Green Alliance wants Denmark to double the number of quota refugees it receives through the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), from 500 to 1000, and later increase the number even more. The Alliance believes that it is embarrassing that Denmark is not sharing a greater responsibility when there are enough resources to do so. A more equitable distribution of the refugees coming to Europe is necessary in order to process the applications of asylum in accordance with human rights and UN conventions.

    * Dansk Radio 26 August 2011 (in Danish)

Municipalities badly prepared for the change in the integration law

Finland 

The Finnish Immigration Authorities estimate many municipalities are badly prepared for the change in the integration law, which will take place in September. According to the new law municipalities need to organize integration services for immigrants that have been in the country less than three years. Apart from refugees the law will include job-seeking immigrants as well as spouses and students. The new law aims to ensure that immigrants have better access to the job markets. According to the authorities smaller municipalities in particular might struggle with the implementation of the law.

    * YLE 26 August 2011 (in Finnish)
    * Savon Sanomat 26 August 2011 (in Finnish)

Not enough funding for asylum-seekers

Iceland 

The Directorate of Immigration in Reykjavik claims that it does not have sufficient funding for thorough investigation and processing of applications for asylum. Furthermore they announce they might soon have to make cuts to the services they provide for refugees. According to international law the government has to provide sufficient funds to investigate all applications thoroughly. However, a large amount of the 209 million Icelandic crowns (ISK) given by the government for this purpose is spent just on running the Directorate. Meanwhile, the money budgeted to investigate the asylum claims is about 29 million ISK.

    * The Reykjavik Grapevine 25 August 2011 (in English)

Every fourth immigrant a refugee

Norway 

158,000 people with a refugee background live in Norway. That is about 26 percent of all immigrants or children of immigrants in the country. According to new statistics from the Norwegian Central Bureau of Statistics, 3.2 per cent of the entire Norwegian population are refugees. Last year, some 6,600 refugees came to Norway; the two largest groups came from Somalia and Afghanistan. However, Iraqi refugees still constitute the largest group of refugees in Norway. About half of all refugees have lived in Norway more than 10 years, and 44 pe rcent are aged 20-39 years.

    * Aftenposten 25 August 2011 (in Norwegian)

Sida ready to increase Libya aid

Sweden 

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has donated nearly 130 million Swedish crowns (SEK) to the crisis in Libya since the beginning of this year. The Agency has helped Libyan refugees in neighboring countries Egypt and Tunisia, as well as within Libya, where most of the money has been directed to the health care sector. With the rebels gaining power in the country, Sida has now announced it is ready to give more if the situation so requires. It is also looking into possibilities of supporting long-term development in the country.

    * Sveriges Radio 25 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Sveriges Radio 25 August 2011 (in English)

12 million people are stateless

UNHCR in the news 

Nearly 12 million people do not have a country they can legally call their own. They are stateless. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is now launching a campaign in order to get more countries to do something about the problem and the first step is for countries to sign two conventions on statelessness. – These people are in desperate need of help as they live in a legal vacuum. This makes them some of the most excluded people in the world, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres. The campaign will provide an overview of the extent of the phenomenon of statelessness. Because stateless people technically are not citizens of any country, they are often denied basic human rights and access to jobs, housing, education and health care.

    * Politiken 25 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Dagsavisen 25 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * Verdens Gang 25 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * Nettavisen 25 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * Dagens Nyheter 25 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Sveriges Radio 25 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Borås Tidning 25 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * HBL 25 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * YLE 25 August 2011 (in Finnish)

Libya-Italy agreement

UNHCR in the news 

As soon as the new regime is established in Tripoli, the Italian authorities hope to continue cooperation with Libya on the Mediterranean border control. Due to the previous cooperation, illegal immigration from Libya had nearly ceased. However, the rebellion against Gaddafi's regime last spring changed the situation. – With the crisis in Libya the agreement with Italy came to a halt. Since the beginning of the year more than 50,000 persons have fled to Italy, of whom more than half from Libya, says Hanne Mathisen, the spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in the Nordic and Baltic region. The journey across the Mediterranean is associated with very high risks and according to UNHCR more than 1,500 persons have died so far this year while attempting to cross over. Therefore it is essential for EU countries to be more engaged in saving the lives of these fleeing refugees.

    * Dagens arena 25 August 2011 (in Swedish)

[Roope]

Saturday 27 August to Monday 29 August 2011

Huge TV-show to help Horn of Africa

Denmark 

On Saturday 27 August 2011, TV 2 and Danish Radio teamed up to broadcast a TV-show to raise money for the starving people in the drought-stricken Horn of Africa. The show managed to collect over 110 million Danish crowns (DKK). On average, each individual donated 1,000 DKK. The money will go to several aid organizations.

    * Berlingske 27 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 27 August 2011 (in Danish)

The Danish People's Party: Fly asylum-seekers home

Denmark 

At a press conference on Monday 29 August 2011, the Danish People's Party (DPP) presented several proposals regarding immigration. One proposal is to offer asylum-seekers the possibility to seek asylum in new reception centres in their region of origin instead of in Denmark. The Danish People's Party wants to open new reception and screening centres in North Africa, Pakistan and the Middle East as well as in the Horn of Africa, in collaboration with the UK, the Netherlands and Australia. – We want to help people in need, but we want the asylum process to take place in their regions of origin rather than in Denmark, says Peter Skaarup, the Danish People's Party spokesperson. Skaarup says that in the future asylum-seekers arriving at the Danish borders could be sent back to get their cases processed there in new reception centres. The Liberals and the Conservatives distance themselves from DPP's proposals. Søren Pind, Minister for Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs, says the proposal is unrealistic, people cannot be sent back to places like the refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya. He further underlines that Denmark will continue to receive quota refugees.

    * Berlingske 29 August 2011:1 (in Danish)
    * Berlingske 29 August 2011:2 (in Danish)
    * Berlingske 29 August 2011:3 (in Danish)
    * Berlignske 29 August 2011:4 (in Danish)
    * B.T. 29 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 29 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 29 August 2011:1 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 29 August 2011:2 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 29 August 2011:3 (in Danish)
    * Dansk Radio 29 August 2011 (in Danish)

Budget cuts to lengthen waiting periods for residence permits

Finland 

If next years' budget proposal is approved with a cut of about 20 million euros for the immigration services, refugees and asylum-seekers, the wait for a residence permit could become considerably longer. Currently it is from six months to a year. Furthermore the Ministry of the Interior is pulling out the 2.5 million euros aimed to speeding up the process times. At the moment the Finnish Immigration Service is able to process about 2,000 permits annually, whereas the real need is 3,000 a year.

    * YLE 26 August 2011 (in Finnish)

Cut in the number of reception centres

Finland 

80 million euros have been budgeted for the Finnish Immigration Service and the reception of asylum-seekers and refugees for next year. The sum is a quarter less than this year. According to the Minister of the Interior Päivi Räsänen the number of reception centres might be cut due to these savings. The proposed solution is to speed up the asylum application process and to return rejected asylum-seekers faster than before. She furthermore believes that the costs of immigration can be reduced by tightening the laws on family reunification.

    * Aamulehti 28 August 2011 (in Finnish)
    * Radio Pori 28 August 2011 (in Finnish)

Norwegians have donated 47 million crowns to the Horn of Africa

Norway 

So far the Norwegian population has donated 47 million Norwegian crowns (NOK) to the drought-stricken Horn of Africa. Out of that money, the Red Cross has received 20 million NOK. – No contribution is too small, as it is the total amount that makes a difference for the victims in the Horn of Africa, says Sven Mollekleiv, president of the Red Cross in Norway. Both the Norwegian Church Aid and UNICEF have noted the willingness of the Norwegians to donate money, as they have received 16 million NOK and 11 million NOK respectively.

    * Verdens Gang 26 August 2011 (in Norwegian)

No family reunification for Somali families

Sweden 

Somali parents cannot be reunited with their children even if they have conducted DNA-tests to prove family ties. This is owing to the fact that the Swedish Government does not accept passports from Somalia and hence almost all applications for family reunification are rejected. According to the Swedish Migration Board the Government is taking an unreasonably long time to solve the issue, which can only be done by changing the legislation.

    * TV 4 Nyheterna 28 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * TV4 28 August 2011 (in Swedish)

Children are the worst affected

UNHCR in the news 

The Dollo Ado refugee camp, situated in Ethiopia close to the border with Somalia, has until fairly recently hosted around 50,000 refugees. With the crisis on the Horn of Africa the number has grown to 120,000 people. Per Lindqvist from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) says that on his visit to the camp a while ago, 2,000 refugees arrived daily. MSB is in Dollo Ado to build the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) living quarters and an office, with the aim to enable the UN to expand its presence and strengthen its activities. – You feel inadequate when you see so many people suffering. We know that resources are available in the world, but not where they are needed most, Lindqvist states.

    * Nya Wermlands-Tidningen 26 August 2011 (in Swedish)

Statelessness in the world

UNHCR in the news 

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the estimated 12 million stateless persons in the world today. Since stateless persons are technically not citizens of any country, they are often denied basic human rights and access to jobs, housing, education and health care. Some are arrested, as they cannot prove their identity. – These people are in desperate need of help because they live in a nightmarish legal limbo. This makes them some of the most excluded people in the world, states António Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. – It is shameful that millions of people are living without nationality. Governments must act to reduce overall numbers of stateless, the High Commissioner continues.

    * Diena 25 August 2011 (in Latvian)
    * Latvijas radio 25 August 2011 (in Latvian)
    * Postimees 24 August 2011 (in Estonian)

[Roope]

Tuesday 30 August to Friday 2 September 2011

Fewer seek asylum in Denmark

Denmark 

New figures show that the prognosis for the number of asylum-seekers will be lower in 2011 than first expected, from 6,000 to 3,600 people. This decline follows five years of increasing numbers of asylum-seekers. Danish Red Cross is closing 7 recepetion centers. At the same time, 37 per cent fewer have applied for family reunification during the first part of this year following the imposed fee of 7,775 Danish crowns (DKK). The drop in applications expected to continue in the second part of the year due to the controversial point system that came into force on 1 July. The Danish People's Party is satisfied: "It shows that our policy is working", says integration spokesperson Peter Skaarup, who maintains his party's recent suggestion to process asylum-seekers in their area of origin.

    * Jyllands-Posten 29 August 2011 (in Danish)

New political partnership: abolish Immigration Ministry

Denmark 

The Social Liberals and the Conservatives want to abolish the Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs, the parties announced on Tuesday morning. Naser Khader and Brian Mikkelsen from the Conservatives explained that Denmark needs to improve its international image in order to attract foreign businesses and workers. The proposal calls for the responsibilities of the Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs to be redistributed across other ministries. The Social Liberals vice-chairman, Morten Østergaard, said the abandonment of the Immigration Ministry would be the first step in establishing a more nuanced view of foreigners and would strengthen integration. However, many do not believe that abolishing the Ministry will solve any problems. Later on Tuesday, the Conservatives party leader, Lars Barfoed, announced that he does not agree that the Ministry should be abolished.

    * The Copenhagen Post 30 August 2011 (in English)
    * Dansk Radio 30 August 2011 (in English)
    * Dansk Radio 30 August 2011:1 (in Danish)
    * Dansk Radio 30 August 2011:2 (in Danish)
    * Dansk Radio 30 August 2011:3 (in Danish)
    * Berlingske 30 August 2011:1 (in Danish)
    * Berlingske 30 August 2011:2 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 30 August 2011:1 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 30 August 2011:2 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 30 August 2011:1 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 30 August 2011:2 (in Danish)
    * Avisen 30 August 2011 (in Danish)

Danish People's Party: - New government must go against the Court

Denmark 

As a result of a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against Great Britain, Denmark should give asylum to all from southern Somalia. The Danish People's Party (DPP) wants the future government to go against the ruling. – We will do all that we can to avoid that an international court can decide who will receive asylum in Denmark, says Martin Henriksen from the DPP. Both the Liberals and the Social Democrats (S) reject the DPP's demand. Dam Kristensen (S) says that it has to be seen whether the decision is appealed or not and how it should be interpreted, but a S government plans to adhere to international conventions. The Refugee Appeals Board has as a response delayed the sending back of 59 Somalis who have been denied asylum. – The Board is obliged to follow ECHR rulings, says the Executive Secretary of the Board, Stig Torp Henriksen.

    * International 30 August 2011 (in Danish)

The Refugee Appeals Board to investigate old cases

Denmark 

The Refugee Appeals Board is going to review a number of cases concerning residence permits for possible human rights violations. The Minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs Søren Pind has previously refused to investigate 75 similar cases. – We want to be on the safe side, and therefore we will examine all the decisions from the last three and a half years, states Stig Torp Henriksen, the Executive Secretary of the Refugee Appeals Board, an independent complaints mechanism for asylum cases. The Board's decision is based on the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights.

    * Dagbladet 1 September 2011 (in Danish)

Decision-makers educated about immigration issues

Finland 

The municipal decision-makers were educated by specialists in an event organized to address among other things immigration laws, money issues and increasing racism. The event was organized due to the fact that around 200 refugees have moved to the town of Lieksa in the last 18 months. Saed Guled from Somalia, who is employed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), emphasizes that it is essential to confront prejudices and racism as soon as they arise, as they can get even more flammable as time goes by. It has been estimated that a further 30-50 immigrants will move to Lieksa by the end of the year.

    * YLE 30 August 2011 (in Finnish)
    * Karjalainen 30 August 2011 (in Finnish)

Asylum-seeking investigations to Oulu

Finland 

The city of Oulu has been proposed as the place for testing the new, more centralized system for asylum-seeking processing. According to the new system asylum could be sought in four different cities around Finland, and Oulu could possibly be one of them. If the Finnish Immigration Service will make a positive decision on being the main founder of the project, Oulu will start as the pilot city for the new system in the beginning of the year 2012.

    * YLE 31 August 2011 (in Finnish)
    * Radiopooki 31 August 2011 (in Finnish)

Unaccompanied minors no longer being put into detention

Finland 

The Ministry of Interior is currently preparing an amendment to the Aliens Act so that unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors would no longer be put into detention centers. A person can be detained if she or he is suspected of committing crimes or to hide from the authorities after getting a deportation order. Furthermore persons with unclear identity may be put into detention for up to one year. According to Susanna Mehtonen, a Legal Adviser at Amnesty International, detention should be the last resort and even then asylum-seekers should have completely different rights to persons arrested for crimes.

    * Österbottens tidning 31 August 2011 (in Swedish)

Palestinian refugees to be sent back

Sweden 

Almost all of the Palestinian refugees staying in Munkedal will have to return to Italy where they have received asylum. A couple of the cases are currently under appeal, but it is not likely they will get to stay. The Palestinians claim they left Italy because they had been harassed and persecuted there. According to Mikael Ribbenvik from the Swedish Migration Board it is a matter for the Italian police to deal with such issues and there is nothing Sweden can do.

    * Sveriges radio 31 August 2011 (in Swedish)

Gaddafi's family is seeking refuge in Algeria

UNHCR in the news 

Gaddafi's wife and children arrived in Algeria on Monday according to the Algerian Foreign Ministry. About 700 Libyans have fled over the weekend to Tunisia, most of whom come from Gaddafi-friendly areas, says a representative from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Reports from UNHCR also state that people who had fled Tripoli, have started to return.

    * Aftenbladet 29 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * Bergens Tidende 29 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * ABC Nyheter 29 August 2011 (in Norwegian)

Libya needs more help

UNHCR in the news 

The oil-rich Libya has attracted many immigrants from poor African countries and there are many black minority groups in Libya. The ongoing persecution of blacks in Tripoli is a particular worry of the High Commissioner of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) António Guterres, who has urged the Libyan rebels to protect refugees and migrant workers. Furthermore the conditions in the refugee camps are horrible, and there is a lack of security and health care. Doctors Without Borders are now pleading with the Libyan authorities, the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to ensure that the basic needs of the refugees are being met.

    * Dagens Nyheter 2 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Opdaligen 1 September 2011 (in Norwegian)




Swedish Minister visited Somalia

UNHCR in the news 

The Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, Gunilla Carlsson, visited the town of Dollow in southern Somalia last Tuesday. This is the first time in 20 years that a Swedish Minister has visited the country. She was impressed by the interventions made for the starving people. – It is calm and dignified when the food is distributed, she said to TT. Together with the High Commissioner for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), António Guterres, Carlsson met with local and international organisations that distribute supplies to the needy. About 30,000 people are currently living in Dollow, where they can receive food, health care and shelter. Carlsson believes that even more money is needed in order to reach and help even more people.

    * Dagens Nyheter 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Sveriges Radio 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Expressen 31 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Norran 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Österbottens Tidning 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Webfinanser 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)

António Guterres in Mogadishu

UNHCR in the news 

– The largest challenge for the world is to help Somalia, which is the most affected country by the famine on the Horn of Africa, said the UN High Commissioner for Refugess (UNHCR) António Guterres, when he visited Mogadishu for the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr. Close to 900,000 Somalis have fled their country during years of conflict and now lately due to the famine. Within Somalia, over one and a half million people are internally displaced. – The first harvest is not due until January next year, so the famine, and in turn the refugee crisis, is expected to get even worse in the next few months, Guterres explains.

    * Sveriges Radio 1 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Sydsvenskan 1 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Dagens Nyheter 1 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Skanskan1 September 2011 (in Swedish)

Help for Southern Somalia

UNHCR in the news 

The United Nations (UN) is preparing to bring in more food and other supplies into Southern Somalia, which is worst hit by the drought. Currently hardly any aid reaches the areas held by the Islamist group al-Shabaab. UN is now trying to build up stocks in the safe areas along the border to be prepared for the day when it becomes possible to get further into the country. According to Bruno Geddo from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) negotiations for access to more areas are in progress.

    *
      Sveriges radio 2 September 2011 (in Swedish)

Refugee flow subsidies slowly

UNHCR in the news 

The refugee camps on the Horn of Africa have started to report fewer new arrivals. While the world's largest refugee complex Dadaab saw 1,500 refugees arriving daily in July, the number is now between 1,000 and 1,200 per day. Likewise the Somali capital Mogadishu faced a flow of 28,000 internally displaced in July, whereas in August there were only 5,000 arrivals. The drop in numbers is partly due to the vast emergency efforts, but according to Hanne Mathisen, the spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in the Baltic and Nordic countries, it can also be explained by families experiencing more obstacles on the way to the camps, such as checkpoints. – Problems remain. In those areas that al-Shabaab controls there are constraints in particular on men's movements, says Adrian Edwards from the Agency. Al-Shabaab has left Mogadishu, however, which has made it easier to deliver aid to the capital. While pressure on Mogadishu and relocation camps decreases, there is an increase in the number of Somalis who choose to flee to Yemen, and on the whole it is too early to state the worst is over. The situation is changing, but the international community has to keep up the aid efforts. – It is tragic that when men, women and children finally reach the camps some are so exhausted that they drop down and die. We need more donations to provide shelter, water and other relief, Mathisen emphasises.

    * Kristeligt Dagblad 2 September 2011 (in Danish)

IKEA gives 62 million dollars for the UNHCR

UNHCR in the news 

The IKEA Foundation has decided to donate 62 million dollars for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) over the next three years to relieve the situation in the world's biggest refugee complex, Dadaab, in Kenya. – This is the single largest donation we have received from a private actor, says Hanne Mathisen, the spokesperson for the UNHCR in the Baltic and Nordic Regions. – We are very grateful. There is great suffering on the Horn of Africa right now. More than 12 million persons are affected by the drought and hunger. We hope that this donation will inspire other companies, she continues. Adrian Edwards, a representative of the UNHCR said the donation was examined with "due diligence" before it was accepted. He also told the AP that the agency was well aware of the claims in a new book by a respected Swedish author and journalist that the IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad's youth ties with Nazi groups extended beyond what he had previously acknowledged.

    * Food monitor 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Sydsvenskan 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Aftonbladet 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Dagens Nyheter 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Expressen 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Värmlands folkblad 31 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * SVT 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Affarsliv 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Mentor 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Veckans affärer 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * The Local 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * YLE 30 August 2011 (in Swedish)
    * YLE 30 August 2011 (in Finnish)
    * Verkkouutiset 30 August 2011 (in Finnish)
    * B.T. 30 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Business 30 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * 30 August 2011 (in Danish)
    * Stockholm news 30 August 2011 (in English)
    * Swedish Wire 30 August 2011 (in English)
    * The Local 1 September 2011 (in English)
    * Avisa Hordaland 30 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * Dagsavisen 30 August 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * VG Nett 30 August 2011(in Norwegian)
    * Aftenposten 30 August 2011(in Norwegian)
    * Bergens Tidende 30 August 2011(in Norwegian)
    * Vårt Land 30 August 2011(in Norwegian)
    * DN 30 August 2011(in Norwegian)
    * Dagligvarehandeln 30 August 2011(in Norwegian)

[Roope]

Saturday 3 September to Monday 5 September 2011

Social Democrats and Socialist People's Party want to abolish 24-year rule

Denmark 

The Government attacks the Social Democrats (S) and the Socialist People's Party (SF) after Villy Søvndal (SF) on Friday opened up for the possibility of setting an expiration date on the controversial 24-year rule on family reunification. He said that the rule will be kept for this mandate, but removed by the next. Søren Pind, the Minister of Refugees, Immigration and Integration Affairs, does not trust that the Social Democratic party will not remove the rule already this mandate period. The 24-year rule on family reunification prevents Danish citizens to marry a foreigner and live in Denmark if one of the persons is under 24-years of age. In order for the Social Liberals (R) to form a government with SF and S, they want to be able to abolish the rule. The Danish People's Party (DF) also wants to negotiate the 24-year rule with SF but only after the election and criticizes them for its alliance with Social Democrats. Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen calls the 24-year rule a cornerstone of the Government's integration policy that has saved many young immigrant women from forced marriages.

    * Politiken 2 September 2011:1 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 2 September 2011:2 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 3 September 2011 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 2 September 2011:1 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 2 September 2011:2 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 2 September 2011:3 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 4 September 2011 (in Danish)
    * Berlingske 2 September 2011 (in Danish)
    * Berlingske 4 September 2011:1 (in Danish)
    * Berlingske 4 September 2011:2 (in Danish)
    * Berlingske 4 September 2011:3 (in Danish)

It should take less time to become a citizen

Denmark 

– It should take four to five years and not nine years to become a Danish citizen, suggests a member of the Socialist People's Party (SF), Kamal Qureshi. Specifically, he would like to follow the Canadian model, a three-year induction programme, including education. After the induction programme one is offered a permanent residency, and in the future citizenship. This way refugees and immigrants can feel part of the Danish community. Qureshi is backed by Trine Pertou Mach, a parliamentary candidate in Copenhagen for the SF party. The Social Democrat Mette Reissmann also believes it is a good idea, as it will bring more, much needed foreign workers, and include people into society rather than keeping them outside.

    * Berlingske 2 September 2011 (in Danish)

Danish Red Cross and the Danish People's Party's election campaign

Denmark 

Since the Danish People's Party (DF) announced its proposal to close several refugee centres in Denmark and instead use the money to help refugees in their neighbouring countries, the Danish Red Cross has several times been linked to want the same thing. For example in a debate, Pia Kjærsgaard, DF's leader, used this argument as if DF's suggestion was something that the Red Cross recommended. Anders Ladekarl, director of Red Cross in Denmark, has expressed that he is really tired of being pulled into the political debate.  – It is true that we advocate for increased efforts in neighbouring areas, but not at the expense of the centres in Denmark, Ladekarl says. However, Peter Skaarup (DF) responds that they are only saying that the Red Cross, along with them, thinks it is a good idea to make an extra effort in neighbouring areas.

    * Politiken 3 September 2011 (in Danish)
    * Dansk Radio 3 September 2011 (in Danish)

Unaccompanied Roma children rarely get to stay in Sweden

Sweden 

None of the about 100 Roma children that fled Serbia and Kosovo last year have been allowed to stay in Sweden by the Swedish Migration Board, even though about half of all unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors were allowed to stay. In Sweden, ethnicity is not registered in the asylum-seeking process. Therefore the exact number of how many Roma children that has come to Sweden is not known, only that many of Roma origin from former Yugoslavia come here to seek asylum. Oskar Ekblad from the Swedish Migration Board explains that most of the time the Roma children do not have sufficient grounds to be granted asylum, but he is prepared to look into it.

    * Sveriges Radio 5 September 2011:1 (in Swedish)
    * Sveriges Radio 5 September 2011:2 (in Swedish)

Fighting continues in Sudan

UNHCR in the news 

Last Saturday almost 20 people died in Sudan in clashes between government forces and rebel soldiers loyal to an opposition party with links to South Sudan. According to the UN fighting has displaced 3,000 people. The UN Refugee Agency has appealed to all parts in the conflict to immediately stop fighting. – It is crucial to stop yet one more refugee crisis from taking hold in the region, that has seen so much suffering these last months, says António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. South Sudan became independent from Sudan in July 2011.

    * Aamulehti 3 September 2011 (in Finnish)
    * Verkkouutiset 3 September 2011 (in Finnish)
    * Ilta-Sanomat 3 September 2011 (in Finnish)

[Roope]

Tuesday 6 August to Wednesday 7 August 2011

Opposition stumbles toward consensus on immigration policies

Denmark 

There are disagreements in the opposition coalition over a future government's new immigration rules. The conflict concerns the 'point system' that treats highly skilled or educated foreigners preferentially, and its sub-regulation, the 24-year rule, designed to prevent arranged marriages. The Social Democrats (S) and the Socialist People's Party (SF), who would likely form a coalition, have been having trouble agreeing on what will happen to the new immigration rules should they win the election. SF wants to abolish the 24-year rule, while S wants to keep it. However, the two parties have agreed to abolish the current point system and replace it with their own list of requirements, while the 24-year rule will remain in place. Some critics believe that this agreement is to keep up the appearance, as there are big differences in the two parties' immigration policies.

    * The Copenhagen Post 6 September 2011 (in English)
    * Politiken 5 September 2011:1 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 5 September 2011:2 (in Danish)
    * Politiken 7 September 2011 (in Danish)
    * Berlingske 5 September 2011:1 (in Danish)
    * Berlingske 5 September 2011:2 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 5 September 2011 (in Danish)
    * Jyllands-Posten 6 September 2011 (in Danish)

Grandparents want to raise asylum claims

Denmark 

The organizations 'Grandparents for Asylum' and 'A Decent Denmark' demonstrated yesterday to highlight asylum-seekers' situation in the election campaign. The election should be used to raise a claim for a decent Danish asylum and refugee policy, according to the two organizations. One of their demands was that torture victims and refugees with post-traumatic stress should be offered treatment.

    * Arbejderen 6 September 2011 (in Danish)

Secret medical clinic will expand to include midwives

Denmark 

The Red Cross is planning on expanding the clinic for paperless people to become a functioning health centre so that it can handle births. – I am currently recruiting midwives, and I am looking for psychologists, physiotherapists and laboratory technicians, so that we have a real medical centre, says the head of the clinic, Vibeke Lensjkold. The clinic has had 27 patients in the four days that it has been open. This is a success according to the Red Cross in Denmark. They have worked on spreading the word that the clinic is anonymous, in the sense that they do not disclose any information from the medical records, Lensjkold continues.

    * Avisen 7 September 2011 (in Danish)

No refugees to Raseborg

Finland 

Raseborg municipality has decided not to take any new refugees. The question has been discussed, for example, due to the situation in Libya. The city council voted on the issue on Monday, and with a result of six votes for and seven against the city decided not to accept any more refugees. The topic will be revisited in December. Also Sjundeå municipality has refused to take in more refugees.

    * Västra Nyland 6 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Svenska YLE Nyheter 6 September 2011 (in Swedish)

Care for paperless immigrants

Sweden 

There is broad political consensus in the County Council of Sörmland that paperless persons should have the same right to health care as the rest of the population. According to the County Council there are around 1,300 asylum-seekers in Sörmland, and the guess is that 300 of those are paperless. – We do not want there to be any doubts about the paperless refugees being entitled to health care, states Thomas af Bjur, Chairman for the County's Medical Services. Currently the County Director Karin Welin is expected to review the existing policy documents.

    * Sveriges Radio 5 September 2011 (in Swedish)

Businesses give more to charity

Sweden 

IKEA Foundation that donated 390 million Swedish crowns (SEK) to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) last week, is not the only company to donate money to organizations with a 90-account. In 2010 Swedish businesses gave around 581 million SEK, which is a substantial increase compared to 2006, when 176 million SEK was donated. However, private persons still donate more and the amount from the public reached 5 billion SEK last year.

    * Dagens Nyheter 6 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Sydsvenskan 6 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Svenska Dagbladet 6 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Helagotland 6 September 2011 (in Swedish)

UN does not reach hunger struck area

UNHCR in the news 

Yet another part of southern Somalia is struck by famine, and Somali aid workers testify to a catastrophic situation. The al Shabaab group that controls the area does not allow international organizations to enter, such as the UN, while local organizations can enter. The UN has been criticised for not ignoring all formalities and prestige, and work with those who can actually get the help through. But Bruno Geddo, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) representative for Somalia, says that the UN is already working with local organizations to the extent it can. – It is a matter of transparency and accountability, he continues. The UN has to be careful with how the money is spent.

    * Sveriges Radio 6 September 2011 (in Swedish)

[Roope]

Thursday 8 September to Friday 9 September 2011

Social Democrats and Socalist People's Party want to give more Danish passports

Denmark 

The Social Democrats (S) and the Socialist People's Party (SF) want to relax the rules for naturalisation. Both parties criticise the requirements for language and social skills. Even if one has managed to get permanent residence, it is extremely difficult to become a Danish citizen, says Henrik Dam Kristensen (S). The Minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs, Søren Pind, is surprised by the criticism of the Danish immigration policy since S and SF have already criticised the point system and the 24-year rule. He considers it natural that the Government ensures people having knowledge of Danish history before granting citizenship.

    * Jyllands-Posten 7 September 2011 (in Danish)
    * Berlingske 8 September 2011 (in Danish)
    * The Copenhagen Post 8 September 2011 (in English)

Refugee families not granted insurances

Finland 

The Local Insurance (Lähivakuutus) company did not grant insurance for 12 Congolese families in Kainuu this spring. The decision was made based on the fact that the applicants were not Finnish citizens. The issue was inspected by the Ombudsman for Minorities, who concluded that no-one should be denied the right to an insurance based on citizenship, ethnicity or religion. The insurance company now has to compensate each family with 300 euros. The Local Insurance Group is furthermore going to compile a set of instructions for handling such cases in the future.

    * MTV3 7 September 2011 (in Finnish)
    * Kainuun Sanomat 7 September 2011 (in Finnish)
    * Ilta-Sanomat 7 September 2011 (in Finnish)
    * Verkkouutiset 7 September 2011 (in Finnish)
    * Kaleva 7 September 2011 (in Finnish)
    * YLE 7 September 2011 (in Finnish)
    * YLE Svenska Nyheter 7 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Hufvudstadsbladet 7 September 2011 (in Swedish)

More paperless than previously thought

Finland 

According to rough estimates there are around 4,000 paperless immigrants in Finland, the number is higher than for example the police previously thought. The exact number is difficult to pin down, however, as these are persons that do not exist officially. This spring a medical clinic was founded in Helsinki to help the paperless, since they have no access to health care otherwise. Furthermore they are often exploited in the labour market. It has been estimated that there are currently as many as 8 million paperless persons in Europe.

    * YLE 7 September 2011 (in Finnish)

Fewer asylum-seekers want to come to Norway

Norway 

So far this year, just over 6,000 people have sought asylum in Norway. This is seven per cent less compared to the same period last year. Many of those who seek asylum, come from Eritrea, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. – Somalis still constitute the largest group of asylum-seekers and the number of applicants from Somalia has nearly doubled since last year, said Ida Børresen, Director General of Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).

    * Verdens Gang 7 September 2011 (in Norwegian)

War criminals seeking asylum

Sweden 

There are many war victims, but also war criminals seeking asylum in Sweden. No-one knows the exact number, but the Swedish War Crimes Commission is currently investigating 30 cases. According to the international conventions an asylum-seeker suspected of war crimes cannot be sent back to his/her home country if there is a risk that he or she will be subjected to torture or there is a threat to his or her life. EU Member States have chosen to deal with the problem in different ways and in Sweden the suspect can be granted a temporary or permanent residence permit, after which it will be up to the War Crimes Commission to investigate any complaints. The Commission has received 160 notifications of possible war criminals in Sweden.

    * Dagens Nyheter 7 September 2011 (in Swedish)

Malmö to agree on refugees

Sweden 

The city of Malmö has signed an agreement with the County Administrative Board about the reception of refugees. Unlike previous agreements this agreement does not indicate the number of refugees the city will receive, since the number of refugees settling into Malmö varies from year to year. In 2009 the municipality received 796 refugees, compared to last year when only 558 came. This year, the number of refugees is not expected to exceed 500. The agreement will be discussed in the Municipal Council on 22 September.

    * Helsingborgs Dagblad 7 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Skånskan 7 September 2011 (in Swedish)

Criticism on the treatment of migrants

UNHCR in the news 

Around 2,000 migrants have died so far this year while trying to cross the Mediterranean         Sea, according to the Council of Europe. The Council is therefore criticizing the countries within the European Union (EU) for not doing enough to save the lives of the migrants. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimated in May that the number of people who had died crossing the waters was 1,200. This means that the number has highly increased over the summer.

    * Sveriges Radio 7 September 2011 (in Swedish)

[Roope]

Saturday 10 September to Monday 12 September 2011

Too many wrongly registered stateless Kurds

Denmark 

The Minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs has refused to investigate the extent of the incorrect registration of Kurdish asylum-seekers, and according to the Danish Immigration Service there is no reason to believe that there has been systematic errors made. However, all of the 30 stateless asylum-seekers that Information spoke to, were registered as Syrian nationals with the Danish Immigration authorities. According to their own statements, they told the authorities of their statelessness, and several could produce documents to confirm their status. The head of the Danish Immigration Service, Jakob Dam Glynstrup, has stated that they will re-register all cases where there is ground to do so, but the asylum-seekers must themselves come to the office.

    * Information 11 September 2011 (in Danish)

Africans build houses out of election posters

Denmark 

After the upcoming Danish election, posters from the Socialist People's Party (SF) and Liberal Alliance (LA) will hang on the roofs at a refugee camp in Malawi. The association ´Tagplakaten´ urges politicians from all parties to donate their election posters for refugees. The residents of the refugee camp in Malawi build their own homes and usually build their roofs out of twigs, but will now be able to use the election posters to shield from the rain. Anders Feldbæk, who started the association, says that the posters are still in good condition even after they have been up for a few weeks.

    * Jyllands-Posten 9 September 2011 (in Danish)

Reception centers closed but not in the north

Finland 

According to the Minister of Interior Päivi Räsänen it is very clear that the number of reception centers will be cut. However, the centers in Kymi and Rovaniemi are strategically very well located, and hence might survive the cuts. Furthermore they are also flexible in their operations. The cuts are mainly due to the drop in the number of asylum-seekers. In 2009 Finland received 6,000 asylum-seekers, whereas last year the number had fallen to 4,000.

    * Lapin Kansa 11 September 2011 (in Finnish)
    * Pohjolan Sanomat 11 September 2011 (in Finnish)

Belarus opposition journalist granted asylum

Lithuania 

The Belarusian opposition journalist Natalya Radzina, editor of the oppositional Charter97.org website, has been granted asylum in Lithuania. She applied for asylum a month ago and has announced that she received the positive decision on 7 September. Allegedly, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis asked the migration department to agree to the asylum request, hailing Charter97 as a standard-bearer for democratic change in Belarus

    * The Baltic Course 9 September 2011 (in English)

Conversion not trusted

Norway 

Kåre Lode, senior researcher at the Centre for Intercultural Communication in Stavanger, is sceptical of the treatment of refugees who are seeking asylum in Norway because they have converted from Islam to Christianity. He believes they are systematically being discredited by Norwegian authorities. –The applicants are not trusted and are suspected of converting to Christianity in order to apply for political asylum, he continues. Head of unit at the Norwegian Immigration Appeals Board, Ingun Marie Halle, says that all Afghan converts are granted residence in Norway, as it is not safe for someone who has converted from Islam to Christianity to return to Afghanistan. While converted asylum-seekers from Iran and Iraq are assessed individually on credibility and whether it is safe or not for them to return.

    * Bergens Tidende 12 September 2011 (in Norwegian)

Swedish Migration Board under scrutiny

Sweden 

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has been looking into the quality of the asylum procedure and decisions in Sweden over a period of two years and made recommendations for quality improvements. According to Hans ten Feld, UNHCR Regional Representative for the Baltic and Nordic countries, Sweden has one of the best systems in the world.  – But no system is perfect, he continues. The study found that the Swedish Migration Board is faced with two major challenges: firstly, it needs to ensure there is greater consistency between its 14 units and secondly, that the decision-makers have the right tools to make the difficult decisions.  – We spoke to many decision-makers who pointed out that there are ambiguities, said Liv Feijen, who took part in conducting the study. – I think it is good that we receive suggestions and recommendations on how to develop ourselves, says Dan Eliasson, Director-General of the Swedish Migration Board.

    * Sveriges radio 9 September 2011:1 (in Swedish)
    * Sveriges radio 9 September 2011:2 (in Swedish)
    * TV4 Nyheterna 9 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Dagen 9 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Dagens Nyheter 9 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * SVT 9 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Sveriges radio 9 September (in English)


Food aid not reaching the needy

UNHCR in the news 

According to new reports, the food aid does not reach the suffering people in Somalia. Now increasing demands for better controls on distribution of aid are being made. UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is one of the many aid organizations delivering emergency aid in the country.

    * Dagen 8 September 2011 (in Swedish)

[Roope]

Tuesday 13 September to Wednesday 14 September 2011

Not many places for Libyans

Finland 

Finland has accepted 50 refugees fleeing the conflict in Libya, but only 15 places have been found so far. For instance, Raseborg, Lohja and Siuntio have refused to take any refugees.

    * YLE Svenska 13 September 2011 (in Swedish)

Migration Court to Umeå

Sweden 

It has been proposed that a new Migration Court is established in the city of Umeå in addition to the three existing ones in Stockholm, Malmö and Gothenburg. The new Migration Court would mean shorter travelling distances and waiting periods for the asylum-seekers in Northern Sweden.

    * Svenska Dagbladet 12 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Västerbottens-Kuriren 12 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Allehanda 12 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * LNY Stockholm 12 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * SVT 12 September 2011 (in Swedish)

Reform failure

Sweden 

An integration policy reform that was launched 1 December 2010 is now being criticized for failing. According to the Minister for Integration, Erik Ullenhag, it is the biggest reform in 25 years, and it aims to get the newly arrived immigrants off the social welfare and into work. The change is slow, however, and for example in Gothenburg 97 per cent of the new arrivals are on welfare before they are linked with the Swedish Public Employment Service.  – We are worried, says Per-Arne Andersson from the Service. According to him the system is unpredictable and unmanageable in many ways. Minister Ullenhag reminds that the reform took place only recently and acknowledges the problems and that adjustments must be made.

    * Dagens Nyheter 14 September 2011 (in Swedish)

Eliasson new Director General of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency

Sweden

Dan Eliasson, Director General of the Swedish Migration Board, has been appointed by the Government of Sweden as the new Director General of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (Försäkringskassan). He will start his new job on 1 October 2011.

    * Ystads Allehanda 13 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * SVT 13 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Södermanlands Nyheter 13 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Sveriges Radio 13 September 2011 (in Swedish)
    * Skånskan 13 September 2011 (in Swedish)

Life-saving Yemeni group wins 2011 Nansen Refugee Award

UNHCR in the news 

The Society for Humanitarian Solidarity (SHS), which helps refugees and migrants when they have arrive in Yemen from the Horn of Africa, has won the Nansen Refugee Award by the UN Refugee Agency in cooperation with the Norwegian Refugee Council. – Thousands of refugees owe their survival to the people working for the Society for Humanitarian Solidarity, said António Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Many people put their lives in the hands of human smugglers and cross the Gulf of Aden in crowded and often unseaworthy boats. Some 60,000 people have crossed the sea so far this year and the number is expected to rise. The award was created in 1954 in honour of the Norwegian polar explorer and the first League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Fridtjof Nansen. The award consists of a medal and 600,000 Norwegian Crowns (NOK) given to a person or an organization for their work for refugees.

    * Verdens Gang 13 September 2011 (in Norwegian)
    * Hamar Arbeiderblad 13 September 2011 (Norwegian)