Mold on walls and in ventilation. Occasionally non-existent access to hot water. Lack of food, medicine and hygiene items.
This is how the conditions at Hvalsmoen transit reception outside Hønefoss are described by refugees and volunteers Dagbladet has spoken to.
The reception received the first refugees on Saturday, after being closed since the autumn of 2019.
Two refugees who are accommodated at the transit reception emphasize that they will not complain. They are infinitely grateful for the help they receive from staff and volunteers.
Still, they would like to see that there was food for everyone. At least to the kids.
– We do not know what we can expect, and really do not want to expect too much, but we wish there was enough food for everyone who is here, says one of them to Dagbladet.
MOLD: Refugees and volunteers talk about mold in the ventilation at the reception. Photo: Private
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– Never seen anyone so grateful
The refugees, who do not want to be named, describe the buildings as “tolerable”. After all, they have fled war. Most people have little or no money to buy what they need in a store.
On Tuesday, someone in the local community found out about the situation. They bought food, diapers and hygiene products. Dagbladet has spoken to one of them, who also does not want to appear by name.
– I have never seen anyone be so grateful for First Price food and bind, she says.
People especially appreciated baby food and breast milk substitutes, the refugees say. For the first few days, this should not have been in place.
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The woman who came with supplies has a great understanding that it is demanding to ensure a good offer to everyone who has arrived in the country in recent weeks.
However, she is surprised that the locals were not informed that there would be a need for donations at the reception, before the refugees were accommodated.
Takes self-criticism
Hvalsmoen transit reception is operated by Hero, which is Norway’s largest player in the field. Communications Manager Arnfinn Nordbø acknowledges that they have had start-up problems.
– There is a lot here that was not optimal in the first days. Much has already been addressed, while some are still being worked on. We do everything we can to rectify and ensure that the residents are well, says Nordbø.
He points to the rapid start-up as the main cause of the problems. They received about 200 refugees during the first two days after start-up. They now house 280 people.
– Every reception needs a break-in period, to ensure that everything is in place. Here we had to throw ourselves around – then it gets a little chaotic.
What has happened in this case is that the reception was approved “some time ago” by Ringerike municipality, the UDI informs NRK.
The municipality and Hero are in dialogue, confirms Nordbø, who assures that the buildings will now be thoroughly cleaned and that adapted food and hygiene products will be in place.
“Sober but prudent”
Hvalsmoen is an old and worn reception. The operating operator is fully aware of this.
Escape from the horror column: – A hell
The political line has for many years been that state reception centers should have a “sober but justifiable” standard. During the refugee crisis in 2015, several FRP politicians reacted to what they referred to as «Refugee-luxury»when hotels were taken into use to accommodate the large influx of asylum seekers.
Now the criticism is mainly the opposite.
– It is a dilemma for us, but we welcome a debate on this. It should not be up to us if the authorities want a better standard, says Nordbø.
The UDI has recommended that the Norwegian authorities plan to receive 60,000 Ukrainian refugees during 2022.
– If that happens, we will have to use everything that exists of vacant buildings to ensure that they get a roof over their heads, says the communications manager.
With increased tourism this summer, he is unsure of the hotels’ capacity to receive refugees. He therefore believes that one will have to settle for a sober standard of reception in several places.
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