Spartan: A bedroom on Hvalsmoen Transit Center, one of nine reception centers run by Norwegian People's Aid.The organization believes the government gives so little money for the operation that living conditions are bordering on the irresponsible. Many stay longer than the sober standard states. Photo: Herman Dreyer
"We need to give people a decent life.We can not argue that people had it worse where they came from. "
Waiting: Mohammed Rifat Oliullah from Bangladesh are mostly satisfied with Hvalsmoen transit center, but responds to dilapidated toilets which he must share with many. - It might be an OK standard for foreigners who are not used to better but Norway is a rich country, he said. Photo: Herman Dreyer
Cursed: - The government's desire that the standard should be kept low testify to a suspicion of asylum seekers, says CEO Ketil Eye by Hvalsmoen, a transit center run by Norwegian People's Aid.
On Hvalsmoen transit center at Hønefoss live currently in excess of 200 people. In the barracks for single men share six strange room. Toilets and showers are shared, often there are 120 pieces of four bathrooms.At one of the toilets there are cracks in the floor, broken lavatory and gaping holes in the plaster on the walls.
It's uncomfortable, do one of the residents, Mohammed Rifat Oliullah from Bangladesh.
He says he is used to better home. That he did not expect Norwegian conditions, but something more than this.
- This standard calls authorities sober and prudent, but in my opinion it is completely disgraceful conditions, says Ketil Eye, head to the reception which is run by Norwegian People's Aid.
There are about 2,000 people visited Hvalsmoen a year, and the wear is high.After some time of deliberation, the authorities agreed that the toilets will be renovated. But much more mature. The walk through long corridors in residential barracks of the former military camp passing sparsely furnished rooms with tatty interior. It's no secret that a significant portion of the budget goes to cover vandalism, conducted by frustrated residents. Last year there were two fires here recently radiators torn off the wall. In the living room the woman and family block sits adults and children in the sofas from the local thrift store. A television hangs on the wall. Otherwise nothing.
- This is what we get with the resources we have, sorry Eye.
It's football, chess and kids activities. Half an hour a day on the Internet are also residents, the twelve computers they share.But Eye would gladly offered more. He believes that funding for operations is too low and that it is due to the policy guidelines concerning the standard of reception centers should be "sober, but acceptable."According to the authorities means sober a simple accommodation, prudent to ensure that provision protects residents' basic needs. Eye want a discussion about what a "simple standard" means.
- We need to give people a decent life. We can not argue that people had it worse where they came from, he said.
Deterrent. Eye is supported by Norwegian People's Aid, who thinks the standard of the receipts should not be part of immigration policy. The organization claims the government's desire for a simple standard means that people's basic needs are not being met.
- We are so squeezed on price that we are totally on the pain threshold in terms of being able to drive safely, says Trygve Augestad, head of department and refugee integration in the Norwegian People's Aid.
While the Progress Party deputy Per Sandberg recently advocated tightening the Norwegian asylum centers, inspired by Greece, Norwegian People's Aid believes that the situation in Norway is already critical.
- Signal policy is that it should be fit bad to stay at the reception, said Augestad.
The reasons why the government will have a modest standard is partly to a higher standard will cost a lot of money, partly because it will not treat asylum seekers better than other disadvantaged groups in the Norwegian population, partly because the standard is not going to be so good that it can lead to that people come to Norway because of that. It confirms Paul Lønseth, Deputy Minister of Justice and Public Security.
- If we have a much better reception than the land around us, it could have an impact on how many people come here. But it's not that we keep a low standard of reception centers to scare people from seeking asylum. We believe the standard is good enough, says Lønseth.
Ketil Eye believes the government uses people's living conditions as a political tool to keep asylum seekers out there.
- It is ethically reprehensible. These are people's lives that need protection, they do not come to stay at the reception center, he said.
Eye believes that although not everyone will have the right to protection, the right to a decent life while they are in Norway.
- The idea that the standard should be kept low testify to a suspicion of asylum seekers - they should be grateful that they get to come at all, he says.
On starvation. In the canteen at Hvalsmoen transit center is lunch: chicken soup and bone dry bread. Exquisite, said some of the residents - inedible, others. Anyway, here are the asylum seekers food. At most receptions get the money instead to cover including food, clothing, hygiene items and a deductible for medical care when needed.To get this unaccompanied asylum seekers 114 million day, while those who have received a final rejection of the application, you get 70 million.
- It is not acceptable, says Trygve Augestad the Norwegian People's Aid.
An official report from 2011, "The Welfare State's waiting room," shows that the amounts have increased very little in recent years, and is well below the rates for social assistance.
- It is not enough to keep away from starvation. People can not afford to eat the right foods, it causes diseases and malnutrition, says Augestad.
Other reception managers report that money is insufficient.
- It goes without saying that the amount is difficult to survive, says Jon Grimsby, head of Skedsmo reception, which is run by the Refugee Foundation.
- We have bought bread for the residents, it is not with us to starve. But then we have to take money from our operating budget, and it affects other offers, said acting center manager Martha Aasen by Bjørnebekk reception, driven by Ås.
State Secretary Pål Lønseth believes that the amounts are sufficient.
- There is not much, and it should not be. The amount of those who have received a final rejection reflects that we want to give something special to those who stay here illegally.But we believe that we can live by it. If people go hungry, it's serious. Then receptions take up concerns with us, he says.
The Norwegian People's Aid has already done. The organization has repeatedly recorded for hearings to the state budget that basic support is too low.
- Politicians are just shocked every time we talk about relationships, but it does not change the amounts, says Trygve Augestad.
Did the government it is okay that the rates are far below the poverty line?
- Over time, it is not okay. It is not intended that people should go hungry. But we must consider the budget rounds, says Lønseth.
Little effect. Pulling back the goods to force people to return, have little effect, according to research from the Institute for Social Research. In 2004 lost asylum seekers who had been rejected, but could not forcibly, the space of reception centers and financial aid. But just get left voluntarily leave the country.
The effect of conservative standards departments to prevent unfounded asylum seekers are unclear. In 2002 the Norwegian government funded television promotions unattractive asylum to stop unfounded asylum seekers from Russia and Ukraine.Targeted individual campaigns can be effective, but generally comes standard on the receipts far down on the list of reasons to go to Norway, says Jan-Paul Brekke at the Institute for Social Research. He has researched the impact of tighter policies on asylum flows.
- Small changes in standards on asylum seems to have little effect. But the Norwegian authorities are standard far above other countries, it can take effect. The aim is therefore to lie at a level as close neighbors as possible, said Brekke.
- You want a screening of people - there are as few as possible who have no right to stay. But if we succeed in reducing the flow of asylum, there will also be fewer of them actually have the right to stay, says Brekke.
He says the reception centers reflect the fact that the buildings are often not designed to be asylum; using disused military camps and hotels.
- It can be a challenge for residents and those involved in the reception, said Brekke.
- We do not want to create luxurious residences. It is not meant to be staying there long.Then it makes sense to use a certain amount of money, and spend more on quick and good case management. I see no reason to re-prioritize, says State Secretary Lønseth.
- It's a piece from sober to luxury? Could you raised the bar without it being luxurious and drew people to the country?
- There could be certain. But we should spend more money on raising the standard, we must spend less on other things. We have one of Europe's best. UDI has supervisory function, should they find that the standard is not appropriate, I have confidence that they react to it. But we have not received such messages.
The appropriations for the operation of reception centers has decreased in recent years, from 2.2 billion in 2010 to 1.57 billion this year. While the number of asylum seekers has remained relatively stable between 9000 and 10 000 annually. In 2012, most came from Somalia, Eritrea and Afghanistan.
Many asylum seekers are living for years in asylum centers. But the sober standard requires authorities said that people are living longer than one year. Today, the average processing time for an application for asylum a year and a half.
- When we see that many are longer, there is an argument that standards should be raised. But we must consider what we spend resources on, say Lønseth.
- It is not new that people live longer than one year in asylum centers. Why have you not raised the bar already?
- There are continuous assessments we do, we also need to take when it comes to the state budget for 2014. We have an ambition to make the processing time down under one year.
The pressure on price. reception centers have a responsibility to drive safely, think Lønseth.
- Anyone can do it better than others within the limits they can, he said.
The problem is that the frames are becoming tighter, according to Norwegian People's Aid. I currently run about 77 percent of the reception centers of commercial actors.They want to operate profitably, and pushing prices to win the bidding rounds.
- We operate properly, but has lost many tenders because we are not willing to go far enough down in price, says Trygve Augestad the Norwegian People's Aid.
The nonprofit organization announced a year ago that it is then squeezed it soon can not drive anymore asylum. Since then it has laid down two receptions.
- The consequences of that we keep the pressure on prices is that residents receive less favorable conditions, says Refugee Foundation Jon Grimsby at Skedsmo reception.
A new scheme allows for the UDI can create their own tenders for nonprofit organizations.
- We hope it leads to a higher number of non-profit organizations and municipalities engaged in asylum centers, says Lønseth.
Jon Grimsby hope there will be more money to operate on non-profit organizations have to compete with the commercial players.
Trygve Augestad is pending.
- We hope it will improve conditions in the bidding rounds. But we have not seen any such competitions from UDI yet, he says.
Ketil Eye and Martha Aasen, however, has little faith that their own tenders going to change much.
- There are still governments that must decide how much they are willing to pay for a reception, said Aasen.
It is not clear when the UDI will use the opportunity.
- UDI has not yet been decided when this will eventually be necessary. For large arrivals will our need to get as many offers as possible govern, says Per Engan Schei, assistant director for regional and receiving department of Immigration.
Wait. Not everything money can buy. As security. Reception center Ketil Eye was upset when he read about Khalida Popal in Morgenbladet 31 May. The young Afghan woman felt unsafe at Hvalsmoen. She was molested in the toilet.
- Safety is our responsibility, but we can not guarantee the safety of those living in our reception, admits Eye.
- We have two environmental workers at a time on duty, they can not be everywhere at once. Also, is not their job to look after people. But we take these incidents seriously. We apologize for the strong, he said.
Eyes still think it has improved since Popal lived there, environmentally workers have gained more experience.
A new group of asylum seekers coming to Hvalsmoen transit center. Nadine and Gaby from Syria have been in Norway for just a week. First impressions of life in Norway was poor Refstad transit center, also owned by Norwegian People's Aid.
- It was dirty, the food was poor. A friend had acute toothache, but was told to wait for a transfer to another reception before he could get help, says Gaby.
After an hour at Hvalsmoen the two unrecognized and full of hope.
- The meeting was fine, the food here is good, said Nadine.
She is a graduate teacher of English from home.
- Maybe I can help by teaching the others staying at the reception, she said.
The couple would like to learn Norwegian as quickly as possible, but they do not know that they have to wait for the relocation to another reception before getting language and community education. The government does not use money on it at transit centers, although asylum seekers are often longer than the few weeks they should.
- They call it the waiting reception, it is the right word. Here awaits you just, say Eye.
Back to the money.
- We would like to offer something meaningful, something that can get them ahead in life. But we have already exceeded the year's activity budget by 60 percent. Why does not the government a chance to rearm people, even though they may be sent back? Eye says.
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