Government pledges of additional financial support have helped spur Finnish municipalities to open their doors to quota refugees from Syria. This year Finland will welcome the largest ever number from Syria – 500 altogether.
Government’s project leader Tarja Rantala of the Ministry of Economic Affairs said she was pleased with the response from local authorities.
“It has certainly been a positive surprise. Evidently the distress of Syrians has inspired a desire to help, so that especially for these Syrians municipalities have done well to find places,” she noted.
However government’s placement campaign will continue in an effort to find accommodation for refugees from other areas. As part of the campaign Finland will tour Red Cross refugee camps disseminating information.
More money, new placements
This year government has offered additional financing to municipalities taking in refugees, prompting 24 local governments to open their doors displaced people.
Four of these municipalities are increasing their intake, while 20 will be accepting refugees for the first time this year.
Another 30-odd municipalities are considering taking in refugees. If they do make a positive decision, they will add another 300 berths. However even among local authorities still on the fence about a refugee decision, the preference is for Syrian newcomers.
Some may find that if they do accept displaced people, they are likely to come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where some refugees from last year are still waiting to be offered a new home.
