– We have an expensive experience after July 22. Then there was a lot that failed, especially the follow-up of those affected, both in the short and long term. That’s what Lisbeth Røyneland says to news. She is the leader of the Support Group after 22 July. Now she is worried that history is about to repeat itself. Lisbeth Røyneland is the leader of the Support Group after July 22, and has a lot of experience that can benefit the victims after the Oslo shooting. Photo: Daphne Steketee / news The Norwegian Directorate of Health has sent a letter to the state administrators. They are asked to encourage the municipalities to follow up those affected after the shooting in Oslo on 25 June. – It is exactly the same thing they did in 2011. The experience we did then is that it did not work, and now they have chosen to do it in exactly the same way, says Miriam Einangshaug, employee in the support group and survivor after the Utøya shooting. – Not proactive On Thursday, news was able to report that the health service in Oslo municipality has been in contact with 200 people affected after the shooting in Oslo. Several of these have other home municipalities, and have been referred to crisis teams where they live. Nevertheless, the follow-up of those affected after the shooting is at the municipal level, according to both the Norwegian Directorate of Health and the Ministry. – The information that goes out is based on the affected person making contact themselves. It is not proactive at all, as it really should be, Røyneland says to news. Lisbeth and Miriam wear the July 22 brooch, Photo: Daphne Steketee / news – We have received several messages from people who survived the terrorist attack in Oslo who say that they have not been contacted by anyone, says Einangshaug. Does not allocate funds The Directorate has sent a letter to the State Administrators in Norway requesting to follow up those affected, as well as how this is to be done. Apart from the letter to the State Administrators, the Norwegian Directorate of Health has no role in the follow-up of those affected, or the coordination work around it. There are also no special allocations for follow-up of those affected after the mass shooting incident in Oslo, the Ministry of Health confirms to news. Røyneland strongly disagrees with that decision. Miriam is a survivor after July 22, and is employed by the Support Group. Photo: Daphne Steketee / news – Funds should have been earmarked to assist those affected by the terror in Oslo. The municipalities with the most needs must receive the support, it must not be spread flat as in 2011, she says. Assistance lawyer Christian Lundin also believes that money must be given. – Sufficient resources should be invested to help those who were affected arbitrarily by this incident. You have a template from July 22, so you can follow it, Lundin says to news. Lundin represented more than 70 victims when Anders Behring Breivik was brought before the court after the terrorist attack in Oslo and on Utøya in 2011. Several of them are organized in the Support Group after 22 July. – We are concerned about the long-term follow-up. We are here for the 11th year, and there is still a great need for help, says Einangshaug about those affected after 22 July. Oslo Municipality tells news that they have the competence and capacity enough to provide follow-up without asking for extra funds. In the new office at Glasmagasinet we meet Lisbeth and Miriam. Here, they promote the interests of those affected after 22 July. Photo: Daphne Steketee / news The Ministry of Health believes that local and regional follow-up is the best. – The government is impressed by the work, for example, Oslo municipality has done in this case, says State Secretary Ole Henrik Krat Bjørkholt to news. Simple measures The support group after 22 July believes that small measures are needed to make a big difference. – What we are looking for are simple things, but which will work, says Røyneland: It should not be up to those affected to get in touch. Ideally, they should have been registered in a disaster register as the support group has been calling for for several years. In this way, those who are to provide help will be able to contact those affected. Lifting the responsibility: The support group will lift the responsibility for the follow-up from the municipal level, to a separate «pilot function» with delegated responsibility for this work. – These are logical, straightforward measures. Those affected must be able to find and register. It is not taken care of well enough today. The affected are spread over all winners, and they may be back in a home municipality that has limited trauma expertise, she says. Among other things, the support group creates meeting places for those affected to share experiences. Lisbeth also thinks this is important to form after the Oslo shooting. Photo: Daphne Steketee / news Disaster register Several have previously called for a so-called disaster register. This means that those affected by, for example, terrorist acts or natural disasters can register themselves to ensure that they receive information and follow-up in the time afterwards. The support group after July 22 believes this is absolutely essential to get in place. – Most people do not know what to do after a terrorist attack and what rights you have. That is why it is so important that you are contacted, says Einangshaug.
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Does not set aside extra funds for the at least 200 affected after the Oslo shooting
