The Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness today issued an instruction from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) that municipalities where Ukrainian refugees live, but outside the asylum admission system, can receive a grant from the UDI. The program for municipalities is voluntary.
- The number of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Norway is increasing significantly. We may be dealing with an influx of refugees like we have never seen before in Norway. This can be very demanding, so it is important that we use all our willingness to deal with it. Therefore, now the government is ensuring that people who have fled Ukraine to Norway and live privately can receive maintenance and other communal services until they are settled by the Integration and Diversity Directorate (IMDi). The program can also help to improve capacity in refugee shelters, says Minister Emilie Enger Mehl.
The Norwegian Immigration Service has been asked to extend the current scheme to an Alternative Reception Center (AMOT). Municipalities then receive financial compensation for expenses for statutory services by taking responsibility for people covered by the program who live with family members or other residents of the municipality until they settle. The municipality will also be responsible for providing social benefits to people who are unable to support themselves.
Not everyone is well-intentioned when offering refugee refuge
- So we must not forget that not everyone has good intentions when offering shelter to defenseless refugees. It is important that the UDI be a driving force for municipalities to establish good care procedures for those who are included in this program. It is important that it is detected early if undesirable conditions do occur so that it can be clarified. The scheme should not lead to the exploitation of refugees. I also asked UDI to provide clear information on this, says Mehl.
Source: regjeringen
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