Kurdish Majeed Hasan Abdullah places a tray of uncooked rolls on the trolley that will take them to the oven. For the past year, Bakehuset Finnsnes has been the father of the family’s workplace. Ever since he and his family received a residence permit in 2017, he has worked at various places in Troms. – I enjoy working here, I am very satisfied with the job, he says. Majeed Hasan Abdullah enjoys his job at Bakehuset. But his family’s situation weighs heavily on his shoulders. Photo: Malin Straumsnes / news Majeed and his wife Khalida Ismail Abdulqader have settled themselves in a small village in Senja municipality, just a few minutes away from their three disabled, adult children. Previously, they had to drive seven miles one way to visit them. But even if life is a little easier in a way, there is still a dark cloud hanging over the married couple. Because still no one wants to settle their children – almost six years since the family received a residence permit. Although the outgoing government two years ago increased the financial support for municipalities that settle refugees with special needs from five to ten years. At the time, Majeed and Khalida were hoping for a second chance. They still hope. – It is very difficult to wait and wait for settlement. We hope they settle here in Senja municipality, and want to buy a house and be close to the children. It will be good for us parents too, says Majeed Abdullah. Father Majeed Hasan Abdulla and mother Khalida Ismail Abdulqader hold the hand of their youngest daughter who is visiting them. Photo: Malin Straumsnes / news Will meet the minister However, the housing dream will remain just a dream for so long. – We cannot buy a house because the children do not have a municipality of residence. Maybe they will be moved to another municipality, says Abdullah. Late mayor Tom Rune Elisussen has himself helped decide that the municipality will not resettle the family. – We have made our thorough assessments, this is a matter that has gone on for many years. In Senja municipality’s case, it will cost up to NOK 5 million a year after we have subtracted the grants from the State. When the ten years have passed, the costs will double, says Elisussen. – Isn’t humanitarianism more important than money? – Of course you can say that. But then it is also the case that a municipality must take care of the offers for all our residents in the municipality. If you choose to settle, you have to look at the consequences for our residents, says the mayor. Mayor of Senja municipality, Tom Rune Elisussen. Photo: Linda Pedersen / news He has now asked for a meeting with Minister of Employment and Inclusion Marte Mjøs Persen (Ap) in order to be able to share his experiences with the state in the hope that they can contribute to a better support scheme than the current one. – I have an expectation that this matter will be resolved, it is time. There are few people in Norway, says Elisussen. According to the Ministry of Employment and Inclusion, there are currently eight people who have waited over a year to be settled. Mum Khalida Ismail Abdulqader in the kitchen. Her three children need 24-hour care, and no municipality wants them. Photo: Malin Straumsnes / news Wants a new round in the Storting One of the family’s supporters is Herbjørg Valvåg. She sat on the municipal council when the family’s application for settlement was processed in 2020. At the time, she advocated that Senja municipality should settle them. – They belong in Senja municipality. This is where they have lived, they are our citizens. Majeed works full time and the children live here. We cannot let time pass because it is demanding financially. Being on hold is a broken matter when you have to live a family life, and you have disabled children for whom you feel responsible, says Valvåg. Herbjørg Valvåg has been an important supporter of Khalida and her family since 2019. Photo: Malin Straumsnes / news She has now raised the matter to Storting representative Grete Wold (Sp). – We want to take the matter to the Storting. We have done that in the past without success. We have made improvements, but there is still a need for a better system to ensure that everyone who has been granted residency in Norway actually gets residency in Norway, says Wold. They are now working internally in the group and up against other parties to be able to put forward the best possible representative proposal. – This is a large budget item for a smaller municipality in Norway, but it is not a large budget item for the state. This means that we have to step in so that the municipalities have the opportunity to settle people who need help and services, perhaps for life, says Wold. Storting representative Grete Wold (SV). Photo: Silje Rognsvåg / news – The municipality’s responsibility State Secretary in the Ministry of Labor and Inclusion, Nancy Herz, writes in an e-mail to news that the Directorate of Integration and Diversity works purposefully to settle refugees with reduced functional abilities and extensive care needs. Herz points out that the settlement and integration of refugees is a municipal task, and that municipalities that settle refugees receive subsidies from the state. When settling refugees with extensive care needs, the municipalities receive an annual integration grant for five years and an annual additional grant of approximately NOK 1.5 million for up to ten years. In addition, the municipality can be reimbursed up to 80 per cent of salary expenses through the top funding scheme for resource-intensive services. – Ten years after settlement, many of the refugees will have a period of residence in Norway where they can apply to become Norwegian citizens, says Herz in the e-mail. Secretary of State Nancy Herz. Photo: Gunhild Hjermundrud / news – What do you think of families living in uncertainty about the future for many years because no municipalities want them? – We don’t want it that way. It is a clear goal that everyone should be settled in a municipality as quickly as possible. The government and the immigration administration are constantly working to make this happen in the best possible way, she concludes. The commitment of both local politicians and Storting politicians means that Majeed and Khalida dare to hope a little more. – I hope the state can help the municipalities a little more. Having three disabled children is expensive. It is here in Senja that we want to be, says Majeed. Mamma Khalida Ismail Abdulqader hopes Senja municipality will say yes to her whole family. Photo: Malin Straumsnes / news
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Kurdish family with disabled children waiting for settlement – news Troms and Finnmark
