UDI not exempting themselves from criticism and blame in asylum report

asylum seekers july - UDI familyThe Norwegian Department of Immigration (UDI). Photo Norway Today Media

Norway was not ready for the large influx of asylum seekers last fall,  UDI ascertains in a report in which they criticize themselves, the police, the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Health.

In the report “State of readiness autumn 2015” the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) have made a very critical evaluation of the state of readiness which came under pressure when the number of asylum-seekers were multiplied, the newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad, which has gained access to the report, writes.
Among the report’s conclusions is that the UDI’s emergency plan had a number of shortcomings and did not take  the possibility  of a protracted crisis into account. This led to the lack of instruction and guidance, poor management of critical functions for small strategic meetings and the employees being insufficiently  involved.
The UDI also concludde that they should have used the term “crisis” about the situation, instead of just ordering a state of readiness. The Directorate had made preparations for 11,000 asylum arrivals, while the figure for 2015 was at 31,145.
The UDI also thinks that the police and the Justice Ministry did not take the crisis seriously. Health authorities are criticized for not taking responsibility for the health and medical aspects of the crisis far earlier.
Other findings in the report include: that children disappeared on their  way to registration at the University of Oslo that asylum seekers stayed at reception centers for two weeks without getting basic physical examinations, and that 13,000 stayed at emergency rooms without UDI possessing sufficient information about them.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today