Asylum seekers More than 40 new asylum applications received from Ukrainians in two days in Finland, they have not yet crossed the border: “The numbers will start to grow in the next few days”

Homeland|Asylum seekers

Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) and Ukrainians living in Finland expect the number of Ukrainian asylum seekers seeking security from the war to grow rapidly in the coming days and weeks.

Migris was told on Sunday that by this year, 57 Ukrainians had applied for asylum in Finland by Sunday, 35 of whom had applied on Friday and nine on Saturday.

“As far as we know, there have not yet been any new asylum seekers across the Finnish borders who have submitted an application. Applications have been submitted earlier this year and in the last few days, but to our knowledge, the majority of them have already resided in the country, ”says the head of the reception unit. Pekka Nuutinen The migra said on Sunday.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), some 368,000 people had fled Ukraine to neighboring countries by Sunday after the Russian invasion began.

Nuutisen According to him, applications have been submitted to police departments all over Finland. They were left earlier, but Russia’s attack on Ukraine has also activated those already in the country.

“It can be assumed that the number of asylum seekers will start to grow in the next few days. It is difficult to estimate the size, ”said Nuutinen.

He reminds that there are a large number of Ukrainians in Europe other than Finland, to whom new refugees may be primarily seeking. The number of Ukrainians in Finland is still small compared to the rest of Europe.

Migri According to Nuutinen, has been activated in accordance with the new situation. The on-call service is available 24 hours a day and the reception centers have been alerted to raising their readiness.

There are currently 27 centers, 20 of which are adult and family units, and seven are units for minors. Seats were increased from 1,000 to 1,300 on Friday.

According to current information, Ukraine will not allow able-bodied men out of the country. For example, in the wake of the refugee crisis that began in 2015, women and children in particular are fleeing the war in Ukraine.

“They hardly walk through Europe like a large proportion of the 2015 refugees did. You could probably expect them to go to neighboring areas in Europe, where they have a lot to know, ”Nuutinen thinks.

According to him, the situation is different, at least for the time being, in 2015–2016 in that the majority of newcomers or those already here are already in private accommodation.

“It affects our operation, but we are vigilant.”

So Applications are still pending among Ukrainians living in migrants other than Finland. The Association of Ukrainians in Finland is currently organizing assistance to asylum seekers, chairman of the association Vassili Goutsoul said on Sunday.

According to Goutsoul, the association has organized financial and other material assistance to Ukraine since the occupation of Crimea about eight years ago. Efforts are now being made to increase direct aid, for example by opening a bank account on Monday for cash grants.

“We are primarily working to provide humanitarian assistance to asylum seekers as well as on the ground in Ukraine,” Goutsoul said.

“For years, we have been sending money, food and supplies to a hospital in Irpin, near Kiev, for example. Many Finns have supported us by donating money and supplies. We are very happy and grateful for that. ”

Goutsoulin According to the locals, they have taken food sent from Finland or food bought with money sent from Finland to a hospital in Irbin, for example, every week.

“We also support families whose father died in the war, children, the elderly and the sick.”

Goutsoul says that the association is now being organized to help Ukrainian refugees who are especially coming to Finland and coming here.

“We are now taking asylum seekers for granted. We are moving step by step. Asylum seekers definitely need money and other help, ”he said.

On Sunday, Goutsoul had just heard of a group of five trying to cross the Polish border into Finland. The reason for coming to Finland is natural: asylum seekers have relatives in Finland.

In the social Updates have been published in the media about the desire to help asylum seekers when they arrive in Finland.

Many have already been in contact with refugees. Asylum seekers are understandably very tired, anxious, stressed and scared for themselves and their relatives and friends who have remained in Ukraine.

Goutsoul said he was tired himself on Sunday afternoon. However, the reason for the fatigue is positive, he said, as his phone has been ringing loudly, especially since the Mannerheim Square demonstration on Saturday.

“Many have asked how they could help.”