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Urgent to bring home IS women and children

(AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)

Several humanitarian aid organizations in Norway are calling for action from the government. The Church City Mission (Kirkens Bymisjon) said they are not confident about the authorities’ plans.

On Friday the ‘Church City Mission’ and ‘Save the Children’ met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs to discuss Norwegian foreign highters and their children. The government does not want them to be brought home.

The organizations believe the children of IS fighters are innocent and in danger, and should be brought home wrote Aftenposten newspaper. They believe it is urgent that Norway puts together a team of specialists who can welcome Norwegian children of IS member parents when they arrive.

Restless

“We are concerned that the work on establishing a specialized offer has not come far enough, and we are not confident that after the meeting there is a sufficient plan from the Norwegian authorities” said Secretary General, Adelheid Firing Hvambsalof the Church City Mission to Aftenposten.

The Church City Mission and Save the Children met the ministries on behalf of Norwegian People’s Aid, SOS Children’s Villages, and UNICEF Norway.

‘’We lack the Norwegian authorities clearly stating that they prioritise this’’ said Monica Sydgård, head of the Redd Barnas (Red Cross Childrens’) aid
programme.

Caring

General Secretary of Norwegian People’s Aid, Henriette Killi Westhrin, said it is quite possible to bring the children to Norway, and that it is possible to cooperate with others to do this in a good way.

‘’The children must be met with care and close follow-up. And it is urgent’’ said Westhrin to Dagbladet newspaper.

According to a survey Ipsos MMI carried out for Dagbladet last week, 63% to bring the Syria children home. 29% said no.

‘’There are strong reasons why Norway should bring these children to Norway. It is also rooted in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Norway has signed’’ said Westhrin.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today

1 Comment on "Urgent to bring home IS women and children"

  1. Joakim Haugen | 16. April 2019 at 09:46 |

    The children may be innocent but, the parents are not. If the deal here is to bring home only the children (who are not born in Norway thus not Norwegian) then sure. If the mothers or fathers are part of this deal then no!
    They still incite violence against Norway and the west in general and should not be granted a return

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