The Finnish Immigration Service will establish new reception centers on October 24
Immigration Office is preparing to establish new reception centers because of the increased need for accommodation for people fleeing Ukraine.
Some of the reception centers to be established are branches of existing reception centers. The Finnish Immigration Service continues to increase the number of accommodation places in the existing reception centers.
There are currently a total of 86 reception centers in Finland, their branches and service points in private residences, as well as 8 reception units for minors. About 42,000 people are currently registered as customers in the reception system. About 50 percent of them live in a private apartment and 10 percent live in municipalities as part of the municipal model for those seeking temporary protection. Most of the customers are people who fled to Finland from Ukraine.
“The number of people seeking temporary protection is constantly increasing, even though they are returning to Ukraine. Still, it is difficult to predict how the ongoing war in Ukraine will affect the number of applicants. We have to prepare for the possibility that the number of applicants will increase significantly in winter, which is why increasing our accommodation capacity is necessary and justified, says Pekka Nuutinenmanager of the reception unit.
The Finnish Immigration Service is responsible for directing, planning and supervising the operation of the reception system. The reception centers run by the Finnish Immigration Service are located in Helsinki, Lappeenranta (Joutseno) and Oulu. Other reception centers are maintained by organizations, Finnish municipalities and companies.
New reception centers, situation on 24 October 2022
- Iisalmi office of the Kuopio reception center, Setlementti Puijola, 200 places. Valid from 24 October 2022.
- Loviisa reception center’s Porvoo office, Hemcare Oy, 300 places. Valid from 1 November 2022.
- Loviisa reception center’s Sipoo location, Hemcare Oy, 300 places. Valid from 1 November 2022.
- Seinäjoki reception center, Finnish Red Cross, 250 places. Valid from 15 November 2022.
- Kuusankoski branch of the reception center in Hamina, Hemcare Oy, 400 places. In operation from 1 December 2022.
HT
Source: Finnish Immigration Service