– Here are vegetables and fruit, says Aline Kamudege, while she shows bags of food. Kamudege is the leader of the voluntary organization “Open hands for you”, which has food distribution in Hillevåg every Thursday for the needy. Aline Kamudege, leader of the voluntary organization «Open hands for you» Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news In the old factory-like premises there are piles of bags. Outside, about 50 Ukrainians are waiting. The need is great. – We receive them, comfort them, cry with them and find solutions to what we can. But that is not all we can help with, says Kamudege. This case was first mentioned in Stavanger Aftenblad. The newspaper also stated that the financial situation is so demanding that some have considered prostitution. About 50 bags of food were to be distributed when news visited the food distribution. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news Gets 2000 a month Tetiana Timehur is one of those in the food queue. After a month of rocket attacks on her hometown of Harkif, she gave up and fled west. Now she lives with her daughter and a granddaughter in Stavanger. She receives 2,000 kroner a month in support from the state. There will be food, clothes and a bus ticket every now and then. Tetiana Timehur has fled Ukraine. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news – I need to get free food and I need to talk to other Ukrainian refugees, she says. Clearly affected by the situation. Dagny Sunnanå Hausken (Sp) is acting mayor of Stavanger. – When we hear that a lot is closed during the summer, including the Salvation Army’s food distribution, I understand that many people come here, the mayor says. There are 96 Ukrainian refugees at the municipal reception in Stavanger. They receive 2,000 kroner a month in financial support. It seems Hausken is too small. – When we know that the rates were adopted in 2016, and there has been such a large price increase, I understand that it is very cramped and that people choose to come here to get extra food, she says. Dagny Sunnanå Hausken (Sp) is acting mayor of Stavanger. Photo: Ole Andreas Bø / news A problem in several cities Caritas Norway is the Catholic Church’s aid organization. Among other things, they distribute food to the poor in Trondheim. In addition, they have guidance services for refugees in Oslo. Alexander Golding is HR and administration manager at Caritas Norway. He confirms that Ukrainian refugees must be in a food queue in both Oslo and Trondheim. – It is important to think about all refugees, but for Ukrainian refugees it can feel extra hard, as they are often used to higher prosperity, he says. Alexander Golding, HR and administration manager at Caritas Norway. Photo: Kristine Hirsti / news He emphasizes that life as a refugee is not meant to be luxurious, but now he thinks it has gone too far. – The increase in food prices affects those who have the least. I hope that the government can see this special situation and make a correction on the refugee support, Golding says. The municipality distributes extra food Due to the demanding situation, Stavanger municipality has found some extra money. The municipal director called the acting mayor and thus it was a pleasant end, at least in Stavanger. – We will send people down to the emergency room at the hotel. They will be given dry food. So those who need it should at least get food, says Hausken.
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Ukrainian refugees have to stand in food queue in Stavanger in the absence of enough support from the state – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
