The government parties’ preferred partner in the Storting, SV, is pushing for the government to start an organized retrieval of refugees in neighboring countries to Ukraine.
– We demand that the government organizes trips from Ukraine to Norway. When the Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice discourage private individuals from bringing refugees to Norway, they must at the same time come up with an organized alternative, says SV’s justice policy spokesman Andreas Sjalg Unneland to TV 2.
The SV representative is particularly concerned that vulnerable women and children are taken care of in a safe way.
– REQUIRED ANSWER: SV’s justice policy spokesman Andreas Sjalg Unneland calls for an answer from the government. Photo: TV 2
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– Now we see stories of girls disappearing from border areas. It is quite obvious that this is an area in which human traffickers can work. Then, of course, Norway must take co-responsibility and ensure safer travel out of Ukraine. The more organized this is by states in Europe, the better it is for everyone, says Unneland.
Requires clarification
The Liberal Party and KrF also request that the Norwegian authorities arrange transport now.
– We must take the lead and show what Norway can contribute. The refugees need health care, protection and a safe haven. We can not wait for the EU to agree because it can take many days, maybe weeks, says member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Dag-Inge Ulstein (KrF).
Storting representative Alfred Bjørlo in the Liberal Party believes the time is overdue for the government to make it clear that they will provide transport.
– That clarification must come now. Then we all understand that it takes some time to organize the practical, but now there must be clear answers, says Bjørlo.
Mehl is waiting for the EU
Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp) told NTB on Thursday that the government is waiting for signals from the EU about how many Ukrainian refugees Norway will pick up.
– WAITING: Photo: Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp), says the government is waiting for a distribution from the EU.
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However, it is completely in the blue when the EU has a distribution mechanism in place.
Spokesmen for the Swedish, Danish and Finnish governments reject that such a distribution is being negotiated at the moment, according to Bergens Tidende.
– It has now been revealed that there are no talks in the EU about the division of responsibilities. There are 2.5 million refugees who have crossed the border, it could be double in a few days, Ulstein says to TV 2.
No request to Norway
TV 2 has sent several questions to the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness, but has not succeeded in getting a comment from the Minister of Justice.
State Secretary Astrid Bergmål (Labor Party) says that Norway will assist, but that so far it has not received any requests to pick up refugees.
– Norway can not only go down and pick up refugees in Poland or other neighboring countries, nor do any other countries as far as we are aware. That’s not how it works. The opposition knows that, says Bergmål.
At the same time, she emphasizes that Norway must contribute.
– We are facilitating that for now. We have introduced temporary collective protection, we are creating lots of reception places, the municipalities are ready to settle tens of thousands and we are decentralizing the asylum registration to make it easier for Ukrainians in Norway. The opposition must be confident that we help Ukraine in the best possible way.
The government believes that many private actors lead to a confusing situation that could put vulnerable refugees at risk, and therefore does not in principle want private individuals to bring refugees to Norway. This must be done in an orderly and safe manner, Bergmål emphasizes.
– It is great that people are getting involved with Ukrainian refugees. No one who sees the pictures from Ukraine is indifferent to what is happening, and Norway contributes to help. We do this with money, knowledge and not least protection. We must have warm hearts, but at the same time we must keep a cool head, says Bergmål.
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