The cold in Oslo was not as bad as predicted earlier in the week, but on Friday morning the thermometer shows 15-20 minus degrees in the city. It’s enough to make the day long and cold for those who don’t have a place to stay. – No, where are we going? If we go into Narvesen we can buy a cup of coffee, but we have to leave when we have finished it. Vasile Tanase (59) throws his arms out in frustration as he talks to news in central Oslo. He and his wife have a place to sleep, but spend all day outside. Vasile Tanase (59) and his wife have a place to sleep, but he says it is difficult to cope with the cold throughout the day. Photo: Amanda Iversen Orlich / news – At half past eight in the morning we have to leave the place we sleep. Families can return at 6 p.m., but those without family may enter only at 21. – It is very difficult to be outside for so long with the current temperatures, says Vasile. Nobody knows exactly how many homeless people there are in Oslo, but a survey done by the Church’s City Mission last winter mapped 209 people. There are some offers for the homeless also during the day. Mariana Sandu (44) is among those who move in when the cold sets in. – We have a canteen that opens at 9 and is open until 12, but if it is cold until 15. If it’s very, very cold, it’s open until 18, she says. Mariana Sandu (44) is grateful for the help she receives from various organisations. Photo: Amanda Iversen Orlich / news – The Salvation Army, the Red Cross and the Church’s city mission run emergency accommodation for the homeless in Oslo, with support from the municipality. Geir Gustavsen in the Salvation Army says no one should be injured or freeze to death by sleeping outdoors. – We organize a measure called Winter Night, which is a measure that is implemented when it is colder than ten degrees below zero. When it is dangerous to sleep outside, says Gustavsen. – There is emergency help when it is bitterly cold. There is initially room for 100 people at the Salvation Army’s emergency accommodation for the homeless in central Oslo. The offer can be extended if needed. Photo: Håvard Greger Hagen / news I lie, inside the Salvation Army Tempelet in the center of Oslo, people keep watch and look out. There is hot soup and coffee. And not least field beds. The offer is open to those who do not have legal residence or social rights in Norway. Up to 100 people are accommodated at a time. – Should there be something really special, we can increase capacity, says Gustavsen. Photo: Håvard Greger Hagen / news Extends the offer at the weekend It is the municipality of Oslo that finances and decides when the emergency accommodation will be open. On Wednesday, the city council assured that the offer will be extended and expanded through the cold days ahead. They are also increasing their efforts to find people who sleep outside and inform them about the offers. – No one must sleep outside in Oslo when it is so cold that it poses a health hazard, said city council leader Eirik Lae Solberg (H) to NTB on Wednesday. City council leader Eirik Lae Solberg says no one in Oslo should have to sleep outside in the cold. Photo: Bård Nafstad / news – The night patrol and the outdoor section are expanding their presence in Oslo both night to Friday and throughout the weekend. They will go through the night and until 6 in the morning. In addition, work is being done to put in place a day patrol on Sunday from 10–18. – We have close cooperation with the Salvation Army and other voluntary organisations, and we are confident that there is accommodation for those who need it. We have spare capacity, emphasized the city council leader. Coldest in many years State meteorologist John Smits says Friday is the coldest day in Oslo and Akershus in several years. – I think we have to go back to January 2010 to find similar temperatures. Cold days are reported throughout the weekend over large parts of the country. It will be coldest in Eastern Norway, especially in the interior. – It still looks cold, and will stay at a good number of degrees during the weekend, says Smits. It will be coldest in the valley areas in the north of East Norway, but also in central areas the degree scale will creep downwards. In Oslo, it will be around 15-18 minus degrees at its coldest. It’s nothing to worry about being outside for long periods of time. In Finnmark, temperatures are on the rise again after Thursday’s temperatures well below the thirties. But that will turn around, according to Smith. Now milder air comes in. State meteorologist John Smits can only dream of weather like this for the next few days. Photo: Kamilla Pedersen
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Around 200 homeless people in Oslo have to cope with long, cold days throughout the winter – Greater Oslo
