22 asylum seekers on Vestvågøy reception centers for unaccompanied minors in Lofoten have gone on a hunger strike after receiving negative answers on the asylum application.
– According to the reception management they have received negative decisions and have started a protest action, said Bjørn Fridfeldt, regional director in UDI for Applicants in northern region.
– I do not know the details of the decisions, this is information I got from the management at the reception, said Fridfeldt to news agency NTB.
He says the operation started at lunchtime Thursday and they currently choose to wait and monitor the situation. There are community health services in charge of monitoring of asylum seekers.
According Fridfeldt it is rare that UDI experiencing such protests.
NRK has been in contact with one of the guardians of the boys who is now on hunger strike.
– I have encouraged them to eat and go to school because this will not make the situation any better.
But I understand that they are afraid and desperate, she says,
There were originally 40 boys on reception. Several of them are sent out or migrated to adult reception.
– Many of those who have received answer from UDI are 18 years old or older, even though these guys think they are younger, says the Guardian.
Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today
