A joint team of Norwegian organizations and private individuals now ensures the war sailor’s stay in a nursing home in England. – The government is evasive and cowardly, says the largest private donor, minimum pensioner Ulf Andreassen. Ulf Andreassen is a minimum pensioner who now uses his savings to help the war sailor in England. Photo: Privat When news last autumn told about the Norwegian war sailor Oscar Anderson in England, the minimum pensioner Ulf Andreassen from Sannidal near Kragerø knew that something had to happen. He himself has been to sea and met many war sailors and knows their stories about how badly they were treated in Norway after the war. This was also the story of Oscar Anderson, who made himself British after the war. When news met him in August 2023, he had recently moved to a nursing home when his wife was no longer able to take care of him at home. Believes the war sailors are the government’s responsibility But the nursing home place was too expensive for the family, and the wife sold her jewelery to finance the stay. There was a danger that he would have to live in a caravan in his son’s garden. Nursing homes are expensive in the UK. Public support is complicated and depends on the values you own. Oscar and his wife do not have much money, but still do not qualify for such support. news met war sailor Oscar Anderson when he celebrated his 102nd birthday at the nursing home last autumn. Photo: Håvard Blekastad Almås / news – It’s shameful that the prime minister backs up, says Andreassen. The minimum pensioner forks over NOK 200,000 of their savings to finance a two-month stay in the nursing home. – Now almost half a year has passed since news brought the case, without the authorities having sorted this out. I react very strongly to that. The government should ensure that he gets to live in that nursing home for as long as he lives. Labor and Inclusion Minister Tonje Brenna responds to the criticism at the bottom of the case. Now Oscar Anderson is free from financial worries, thanks to a team of Norwegian donors. Photo: Håvard Blekastad Almås / news Oscar Anderson was one of many Norwegian war sailors who settled abroad after the end of the war. The seamen’s contribution was decisive for the outcome of the Second World War, but they were not recognized for their efforts. A splicing team secures the war sailor’s future After news put the spotlight on Anderson’s situation, the money has flowed in. But they have not come from the Norwegian state. The 102-year-old has now moved from the nursing home where he celebrated his birthday to another nursing home. But it is just as expensive, around NOK 100,000 a month. Photo: Håvard Blekastad Almås / news There are promises from maritime organizations which ensure that the 102-year-old will not have to worry about the finances as long as he is in a nursing home. Over NOK 1,000,000 has been collected so far, and is distributed as follows in rounded amounts: Norwegian Seamen’s Association: NOK 200,000 Oslo Maritime Foundation: NOK 200,000 Seamen’s Aid: NOK 100,000 Private digital collection: NOK 370,000 Norwegian Civil Service Association: NOK 60,000 divided between individual contributions and digital collection Private person Ulf Andreassen: NOK 200,000 On Monday, the Oslo Maritime Foundation and the Norwegian Seamen’s Association visited the nursing home south of Manchester. There they told Oscar Anderson that the contributions collected, along with new contributions from them, will pay for his nursing home place for as long as he needs it. – I think that is fantastic, and I am very proud, says the 102-year-old when he hears about the monetary gifts from Norway. Oscar Anderson was visited by the Oslo Maritime Foundation and the Norwegian Seamen’s Ban this week. They guarantee the war sailor’s costs in a nursing home in England. Photo: Håvard Blekastad Almås / news His nursing home costs around NOK 100,000 a month, which is not unusual in England. Calling for contributions from the government – We reacted very strongly to the lack of action from the Norwegian authorities, says head of Oslo Maritime Stiftelse, Sven Aage Thoen. Therefore, the foundation decided to contribute to the splicing team. Stian Grøthe of the Norwegian Seamen’s Association also believes that the government should foot the bill. – The Norwegian state required the seafarers as the only civilian occupational group to stand in armed conflict where they looked death in the eye at regular and irregular intervals for several years. They saw and experienced absolutely terrifying events that the rest of us can’t even imagine, says Grøthe. He believes the Labor Party has a special responsibility. – The Labor Party and the Norwegian state only apologized for this in 2013. When they are now asked to stand up with more than one word, they are once again completely absent. The government will not contribute extra Labor and Inclusion Minister Tonje Brenna points out that the war sailors have a war pension of almost half a million kroner a year before tax. In addition, they are entitled to help at home and are reimbursed for health care expenses. When news asks her if it is appropriate to contribute something beyond that to Oscar Anderson or other war sailors with similar needs, the minister replies as follows: – As of today, there are no plans to change the scheme we have for war pensions for the war sailors. – Fantastic, says a proud 102-year-old when he hears about the monetary gifts from Norwegian individuals and organisations. Photo: Gry Blekastad Almås / news – I understand that this situation is demanding for Oscar and I also understand the involvement in this matter. But then it sometimes happens that separate arrangements have been made for the war sailors, which have been improved and changed several times after they were introduced, precisely to take good care of people. The Seamen’s Association’s Stian Grøthe thinks it is sad that Oscar does not get any extra help from the state when he needs it most. – On a day like this, I am ashamed to be Norwegian. It shouldn’t be like this.
ttn-69
The minimum pensioner gives war sailors NOK 200,000. Thinks the government is a coward. – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
