Pandemic affects quota refugee arrival
Published : 07 Mar 2021, 00:22
Updated : 08 Mar 2021, 01:13
A significantly smaller number than the stipulated one of quota refugees arrived in Finland last year, as the refugee selection process was hampered due to the coronavirus outbreak across the world.
A total of 661 quota refugees arrived in Finland in 2020, according to the 2020 refugee statistics published by the Finnish Immigration Services (Migri).
Finland’s refugee quota for last year was 850. The country accepted 730 quota refugees in 2020, said Migri in a press release.
Most of the quota refugees arrived in Finland from Syria (399) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (211), while the selection of refugees evacuated from Libya to Niger was postponed until early part of 2021.
“Admitting quota refugees is a way of helping those in the most vulnerable situation. Most of the world’s refugees live near conflict areas, and only a small number of them can leave their country of residence,” said Migi Resettlement Section Head Susanne Tengman.
The Finnish Immigration Service is responsible for the admission of quota refugees in Finland. Last year, the only selection mission took place in March in Ankara, Turkey. Based on the mission in Turkey, Finland accepted 249 quota refugees from Syria.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, no other selection missions could be organised. Instead, Finland carried out selections based on remote interviews and documents as recommended by the United National Refugee Agency UNHRC as a result of the pandemic.
The first selection based on remote interviews was completed in the early autumn for refugees in Lebanon, and the second at the end of the year for refugees in Niger.
“The remote interviews were carefully planned in cooperation with experts from different organisations. In principle, the remote interviews were similar to in-person interviews. The entire family attends the interview session, during which we establish personal details of the refugees, their need for international protection and resettlement, factors related to general order and security, and the refugee’s capacity for integration,” explained Tengman.