– Sometimes I try to give them some food while they are here, says Aina Andreassen. She is a nurse at the Health Center for paperless people in Bergen, which is owned by the Church’s Bymission and Raudekrossen. Every year, 100-150 people without legal residence in Norway come here to get help from volunteer doctors, nurses and psychologists. Aina Andreassen is a nurse at the health center for paper lice in Bergen. Certain patients who have a long way to travel may struggle to just pay for the bus ticket, and may arrive hungry. Andreassen tells about krone-rolling at the asylum reception in order to afford a bus ticket for a male patient. – As we enter the waiting room, he looks at the shelf with some food by the fridge, stretches his arms towards it and says “oh, I haven’t eaten for three days”. Then we use some time to eat before we start with the information section, says the nurse. She comes with a sigh of relief: – There are legal limits to what one is entitled to, but I often feel that we have a moral responsibility, not just a legal responsibility. Persons without legal residence in Norway Persons in Norway without a residence permit are called undocumented by, among others, the Church’s Bymission. The Directorate of Immigration calls it irregular migrants. There are two groups “without papers”: Those who have applied for asylum and been refused and obliged to leave, and those who never go to the authorities. It is difficult to determine how many people live illegally in Norway. The Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers (NOAS) estimates that today there is a total of between 500-1000 people who do not have legal residence in Norway, and who have been here for at least five years. According to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), as of 23 January this year, there were 454 people who had their asylum application rejected and offered asylum reception. Of these, 393 are adults, and 61 are children in the family. In the last three years, 479 persons with an obligation to leave have also left reception without providing a new address. 225 of them currently have an unknown place of residence. UDI assumes that few of them reside in Norway. The police’s immigration unit’s overview shows that last year there were 1,800 people with an illegal stay in Norway. 1,650 of these had their application for asylum finally rejected. The police assumed that many of them had left the country on their own. In 2008, Statistics Norway estimated that there were around 18,000 “paperless” in total in Norway. – Should be able to support herself Recently, news told about Iranian “Anna”, who has managed to train as a nurse in hiding, but is not allowed to work because the state does not think she needs protection in Norway. Nevertheless, she stays in Norway because she fears for her life and health if she goes back to her home country. People like her should be given the opportunity to contribute to society, believes initiative manager Katrine Meisfjord at the health centre. – Those who are here from five years and upwards should be able to support themselves so they can have a dignified life, says Meisfjord. Katrine Meisfjord is initiative manager at the health center for paper louse. Here at their doctor’s office. The initiative leader points out that the lack of income can lead to health problems paperless people come to the health center with. – They are not doing well. They live in poverty, have a very tight housing situation, are dependent on other people and are vulnerable to exploitation, says Meisfjord. – Why are they still in Norway illegally then? – Because they have very few alternatives. This is perhaps the best of several bad things. She refers to the desperate situation of people like “Anna”. – What alternative does she actually have? She can go back to violent family relationships and governing powers that do not stand up for her human rights, says Meisfjord. – What does this group need? – To be followed up by the public health system. They also need activity, because they get sick from not having anything to do. Then they need better advice. They have no money for medicine, healthcare or bus tickets. Disagreement among the politicians The Storting is now considering a proposal from six parties on long-term asylum seekers and stateless persons. SV, Raudt, MDG, KrF, Venstre and Patient Focus will, among other things: give opportunities for amnesty for those who have lived here for more than five years. give those who get a residence permit the same rights as Norwegian citizens. give those who are not granted residence access to health, dental and mental health care, a work permit, the right to study and public transport. For the time being, the larger parliamentary parties are skeptical about giving paperless people more rights. They voted down two proposals on this last year. Erlend Wiborg in the FRP says that “Anna’s” history is strong, but points out that she has had her asylum application rejected several times, also in the legal system. Erlend Wiborg is immigration spokesperson for the FRP. Photo: Christian Nicolai Bjørke/news – It is crazy if people who stay illegally are appreciated. It is much better that the place goes to someone who has a real need for protection, says Wiborg. The ruling parties Ap and Sp tell news that they are concerned that more rights for undocumented immigrants could undermine both the asylum institute and regulated immigration to Norway. Høgre is on the same page, and is most concerned with getting asylum cases handled more quickly so that people who are refused can leave the country more quickly. – The problem often arises when people have stayed for a long time in Norway while waiting for asylum applications to be processed, says Mari Holm Lønseth (H). Local asylum policy in protest At the same time, it simmers in defiance at the grassroots, also among the largest parties: In Vestland, both Ap, Sp and Høgre were involved when an almost unanimous county council last autumn commissioned an interdisciplinary report on how they can help the undocumented at regional level. Bare FRP voted against. The report is expected this spring, but the county council has already agreed to free dental health services. Agder county council is waiting for what Vestland will start with, according to the answer the county mayor from Høgre gave to an interpellation from the Liberal Party in December. Similar decisions were also made in Viken and Trøndelag county councils this autumn. In addition, Trøndelag Ap has proposed to Ap’s national meeting in the spring to provide paperless several dishes, according to Klassekampen. Several city municipalities are now looking to Trondheim municipality, which since 2011 has offered free medical services for paperless people, according to the newspaper. Katrine Meisfjord at the Health Center for Paper Louse in Bergen. Photo: Ronald Hole Fossåskaret / news – We believe that we must fulfill basic human rights in this country for everyone who stays here, says Meisfjord at the health center in Bergen. They are among those who give input to the report Vestland County Council is waiting for. They are also in contact with Bergen municipality regarding public funding of health services for paperless people. – We have to sit down together across political parties, non-profit organizations and the organizations of the undocumented themselves, and see if we can find solutions for them to have a more dignified life, says Meisfjord.
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Believes that people like “Anna” should be allowed to support themselves – news Vestland
