Newspaper Nordlys today presents an unprecedented report on conditions of asylum seekers have lived under the reception center West camp in Kirkenes.
Among other things, the report shows that at one point were nearly twice as many children in the camp as the driver Hero entered and that disabled minors were found in very poor condition.
A child at 14 months with hydrocephalus and brain tumor was placed in a cold shelter without other comfort than some mattresses.
– Incorrect situation
In case Nordlys it emerged that a delegation from Bufetat and County Governor of Finnmark were directly shaken by the shocking conditions in the camp during the inspection in November last year.
– I have long experience with international work with children, but there was a strong impression in the Western camp during the inspection. The situation was chaotic and disorganized, says regional director Pål Christian Bergstrøm in Bufetat Northern Region above the newspaper.
The report matches based on an inspection on 20 and 21 November last year. Representatives of the county and the county doctor was invited to participate in the inspection.
– As the situation appeared under inspection these two days, my conclusion is that the situation of asylum children in Western camp is unjustifiable, even from the standpoint of a “minimum standard” approach. Unjustifiable related to lack of basic security and childcare in a very vulnerable situation, summarizes regional director.
Family with 11 children in one room
Opposite Nordlys rattles Bergstrom up 17 different conditions observed during the inspection as basis for criticism of his.
Here are some of the findings, with Bufetat director’s own words:
– We observe two families with disabled children, where the situation appears to be very demanding. In one family there are three disabled children (two severely disabled, CP, a lighter disabled in wheelchairs), and a sick father with diabetes. Father says that the children are sick, two of the children have not taken nourishment in three days. In the other two children, hence one which is døvstumt. Both families stayed in separate rooms in over a week.
– There is no access to a toilet, sink or shower in the same plane in the building they live in. The fathers say they more than a week has had to carry their children up and down between floors for basic hygiene. It makes a strong impression to see severely disabled children in what I consider to be a very poor condition.
100 more children a stated
In the report that Nordlys reproduces named it further:
- – Hero state that there are 537 asylum seekers in the camp during the inspection. We can observe a surprisingly large number of children of all ages. Hero specifies that in all 115 children in the camp. It is reported to be 7 unaccompanied minors between 15-18. In manual counting along with healthcare in health barracks under Region Physician together called “emergency meeting” later in the evening, it registered 220 children under 15 years in the camp. In other words a deviation of about 100 children in the projection operator and healthcare.
– I get Sunday night phone call from Bufetat representatives who are located in the camp (see relief). They have the evening round found two families placed in a bomb shelter under one of the Civil Defence buildings. There are a total of 8 people in the room, just equipped with mattresses on the floor. No windows, and cold. The facilities are depicted. In one family there are three people; father, mother pregnant for 8 months. and a child of 14 months., with hydrocephalus and tumor in the brain. In the other family, there are 3 children and a pregnant mother.
– No longer a proper description
Press Counselor in UDI, Kristian Nicolai Stakset-Gundersen, told Nordlys that the situation report describes is very different today.
– This is no longer a proper situational. In the beginning it came almost exclusively single adult men over Storskog. Eventually came the surprising number of families with disabled children or family members, and it sets course other requirements to offer.
He said that concern the message from Bufdir was followed immediately afterwards. This through a partnership between the County of Finnmark, the municipality and the operator Hero.
– Dels were sanitary and sanitation conditions corrected, partly were established closer cooperation with the health services in the municipality and the county, to ensure access to these especially for children and other vulnerable. Logistic procedures were reviewed to identify the need for follow-up among residents, says Stakset-Gundersen faced Nordlys.
– Had expertise on children
Stakset-Gundersen emphasizes that Bergstrøms inspection came only a week after center was opened, and that it was fully in camp from day one.
– Many of the operating carrier’s staff was new and procedures for the operation was not set. I think these conditions are now safeguarded, continues Stakset-Gundersen to Nordlys.
He also says it is not true that there were not professionals present with expertise on children.
– It has been a collaboration with child welfare in the municipality to ensure competence in this area. Initially the camp was arranged on throughput and logistics. Today takes into consideration any longer residence. It makes it recruited into employees with different skills, including environment and health, says press counselor for Applicants to Nordlys.
– Improves the conditions in the camp
center manager Kent Richard Witzøe will not comment on any of the findings made in the inspection in November. He points out that he was not employed by Hero at the time.
He says, however, that they have started a series of remedial actions in the camp to improve conditions for residents.
– we share many of the large dormitories into smaller rooms and we mount shower and wc where there is opportunity. It becomes more common areas in each barrack, and the capacity is taken down from 600 to 350 residents, explains center manager Kent Richard Witzøe opposite Nordlys.
He said the reception also is about to get a better activities.
– What is begun and the Red Cross is also in place with a psychosocial team and activities, says Witzøe. He emphasizes that also alot is improved with more hot food. Work is also ongoing expansion of the dining area.
Witzøe dismisses criticism about inadequate cleaning, and points out that there is no hero who washes premises.
– the other hand, we send clothes to cleanse, he says to Nordlys.
Changed purpose of the camp
At the time the report was written, so did Western camp as a temporary emergency rooms. Asylum seekers should by policies to camp just stay there for 48 hours.
After the site visits, and the revelations that came, the camp was emptied as emergency rooms, writes Nordlys.
Regional Director Pål Christian Bergstrøm in Bufetat Region North says that the basis of the inspection was concern about the situation of children and receptive capacity.
When asked what the conditions are today, he replied that they have improved. This is partly because the camp’s purpose has been changed after the government stopped refugee flows over Storskog.
– Must be followed up immediately
It now houses envoy clear refugees who have been refused and the other asylum seekers who moved from emergency to Western camp for asylum interviews.
– These will continue to ordinary reception. During the last inspection we observed that some of the recommendations from November are followed, among other things, a better differentiation of families from single men and manning the camp is finally complete and possessing expertise on children, says Bergström to Nordlys.
he still believes that there is reason to worry considering the conditions in the camp. Especially considering the minor refugees who are there.
– The conditions for children in the camp must be adapted stay length. After the inspection on 13 February is my assessment that the situation of children in “PU-group” is not satisfactory and should be closely monitored immediately, he says to Nordlys.
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