The majority parties in Drammen will only accept refugees from Ukraine. The matter will be discussed at the municipal council meeting on Tuesday evening. Nataliya Yeremeyeva believes that integration must not be used as the criterion for who is accepted as a refugee. – Integration is a difficult process. Integrating displaced persons from Ukraine also has its challenges, and municipalities should be well prepared for them, she says. Yeremeyeva says that she sees it as a clear sign that municipalities are in a vulnerable situation and are making such decisions. – I believe that it is very unfortunate that we are witnessing situations where municipalities are faced with so many challenges that they have to make decisions that would not be appropriate under normal circumstances. Important not to politicize the case Yeremeyeva believes that we should not politicize this case by using words like discrimination or something else with a very negative meaning. – We should rather look more closely at the matter and try to solve the existing problems. I am not trying to defend why Drammen municipality has taken such a decision, but it is important not to politicize the matter. – This political game damages both Ukraine’s cause and all the good things that Norway has done for all refugee groups. She hopes for better cooperation between state and municipal level. – Most Norwegian municipalities have faced many challenges due to the high arrival numbers following the flow of refugees from Ukraine. – It is sad that the municipalities do not receive sufficient guidance and support from the state on how we can handle the high influx of refugees to Norway. A political game Nermina Lieskovica, team leader at the Jasmin women’s network in Drammen, believes that it is not right that politicians only want to accept Ukrainian refugees. Nermina Lieskovica, team leader at the Jasmin women’s network in Drammen Photo: Private – They should use the power they have been given on something other than that. It would be best to concentrate on working with integrating refugees and focus on something other than that topic now. – Refugees are refugees regardless of where they come from. Everyone is affected by the war and has many problems, and everyone needs the same help to integrate. Some take longer than others, she says. Lieskovica has been a refugee herself, and has been in Norway for 30 years. In addition, she has worked with refugees for many years. She will not call it discrimination, but a wrong decision. She says that what is happening now is a political game. – Not all of Drammen municipality agrees with the proposal the politicians have come up with. Drammen municipality has been open to refugees for many years. She hopes that the municipality will accept 340 refugees as suggested by the Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi). – Not only Ukrainian, but those who need help.
ttn-69
Ukrainian refugees react to the fact that Drammen only wants Ukrainian refugees – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
