Sweden edition

Vellinge council in refugee children reversal

Published: 13 Jan 10 08:23 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/24352/20100113/

The local council in Vellinge in southern Sweden has agreed to allow the municipality to house refugee children, reversing its long standing position on the issue.

Fire at Vellinge refugee hostel (22 Nov 09)
Vellinge residents back refugee children: poll (17 Nov 09)
Protests over housing for refugee children (12 Nov 09)

“We have decided to sign a contract with the Swedish Migration Board (Migrationsverket) to accept between five and eight refugee children,” council member Lars-Ingvar Ljungman of the Moderate Party told the Sydsvenskan newspaper.

Back in November, Vellinge found itself the centre of controversy related to Sweden’s efforts to find housing for unaccompanied refugee children.

Ljungman had protested against a joint venture between the local council in neighbouring Malmö and a private initiative to turn a former youth hostel in Vellinge into temporary shelter.

Around 30 boys from Somalia and Afghanistan, who arrived in Sweden without a parent or guardian, were moved into the accommodation.

At that time, Ljungman said the municipality lacked the necessary means to be considered a good option for the children.

Following his outburst, two opinion polls conducted by the newspaper Sydsvenskan revealed that the majority of Vellinge residents didn’t share his views.

Although a formal decision to accept refugee children in Vellinge has been taken, challenges remain in finding housing for the children.

So far only two families have expressed an interest in allowing refugee children to live with them, a development which disappointed Moderate council member Carina Larsson.

“I thought that there would be more considering that so many expressed their support for Vellinge to accept refugee children,” she told the newspaper.

David Landes
news@thelocal.se
+46 8 656 6513

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08:57 January 13, 2010 by entry

"...two opinion polls conducted by the newspaper Sydsvenskan revealed that the majority of Vellinge residents didn’t share his views. Although a formal decision to accept refugee children in Vellinge has been taken, challenges remain in finding housing for the children.

So far only two families have expressed an interest in allowing refugee children to live with them, a development which disappointed Moderate council member Carina Larsson."

Seems we can now quantify the value of those two opinion polls...

Report abuse »

12:46 January 13, 2010 by Glempa

I believe this is a good decision, but I believe the name of Vellinge is still tarnished. If we were unfortunate to live under tyranny, we would hope other countries would help us and we must do the same.

Liken it to people who aren't keen to be an organ donor, but would definately want an organ donated to them if their life depended on it.

@entry

Just because only two families have volunteered, does not mean the survey you mentioned is invalid. Most of us would like to see an end of world poverty, but it does not make us hypocrites if we do want to personally house 3rd world starving children in our homes.

Report abuse »

12:56 January 13, 2010 by entry

@Glempa

Yeah, I would love for everybody in the world to have running water, a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs too. However, the outrage at the Vellinge council and the empty outpouring of generosity & compassion never ceases to amaze me. Some folks are very quick to offer the kindness & resources of others.

Report abuse »

12:59 January 13, 2010 by Beynch

My only question on this story is this; What's meant by a 'refugee' in this context? And yes, Vellinge's name has been tarnished.

Report abuse »

14:03 January 13, 2010 by Nemesis

Hopefully the people of Vellinge will be welcoming of the refugee's when they arrive.

A question. It only mentioned boys.

Where are the girls?

Report abuse »

14:40 January 13, 2010 by Beynch

@nemesis: That's because in most families in the parts of the world where these "refugees" come from, girls don't count. Women always play an inferior role. Often women are not even allowed in school, much less allowed to vote. Only boys. (This according to the UN.) Hence the parents dispatch their male offspring to Sweden as "refugees" in the hopes that an anchor is established, in order for the rest of the clan to gain access in the name of "family reunification" as the expression so compassionately goes. This is how the Social Democrats create dependency, thus guaranteeing votes their way, once these "refugees" are eligible to vote. It's easy, don't you see?

Report abuse »

21:21 January 13, 2010 by Nemesis

@ Beynch

But the question still remains.

Where are the women?

Why are the women not here?

The women are more oppressed, what have they not com ein bigger numbers?

These questions need to be answered by not only left and right, but people in the real world on the ground?

Report abuse »

02:16 January 14, 2010 by Thames

This article does not provide enough information to properly understand what is going on in this situation. The definition of refugees is not defined.

Report abuse »

09:09 January 15, 2010 by caradoc

@Beynch, "That's because in most families in the parts of the world where these "refugees" come from, girls don't count."

I have been reading your posts for some time now and it seems to me your ignorance Knows no bounds " I happen to be an Englishman studying Swedish at an SFI class here in Skåne, and i can tell you that the majority of the class are female , from Iraq, kosovo and Palestine and others and it seems to me that these people DO count and are valued by their parents . They are just seeking a better life. If the refugees were allowed to work and contribute to society then I wonder what you would have to complain about .

Report abuse »

#10

09:41 January 15, 2010 by entry

The council in Vellinge has reversed it's decision on the refugees.

After a great deal of manufactured public outrage & pressure, a commitment has been made regarding the refugee "children". Kindhearted people promised resources but when it comes time to follow through, we find that all the kindhearted people have already exited the building and left their societal mess for someone else to clean up.

Where are all those loud mouthed people who believe Sweden can and should take in all of the world's refugees now? Why will they not stand up and say that they will do their fair share?

If it were a bit warmer we just might hear those crickets chirping.

It is so easy to play the kindhearted and socially magnanimous role when you are promising the resources of someone else.

Talk is cheap.

In the future, people who are unwilling to put up should shut up.

Report abuse »

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