The number of asylum seekers looking for refuge in Norway has significantly increased this year. More than 15,000 refugees are expected to apply to live and work in the country in 2008. This figure is up from 6,500 applicants in 2007, making Norway one of Europe’s fastest-growing asylum destinations.
This dramatic rise is asylum seekers is putting strains on Norway, reports the nation’s immigration directorate (UDI). Iraqi nationals are highest in the statistics, hoping to escape the extreme dangers of their homeland.
“There is a perception among asylum seekers and ‘smugglers’ that Norway is a more attractive destination than many other European countries,” states UDI deputy director general Frode Forfang. “We are coping, but it’s a growing challenge.”
In the first six months of 2008, 1,114 Iraqis have sought asylum in Norway, up from 435 in 2007. They are the largest ethnic group, followed by refugees from Eritrea, Russia, Serbia, Somalia, Palestine and Afghanistan.
Forfang believes most asylum seekers pay human smugglers to help with the logistics and paperwork of applying in Norway. The UDI states that about 60 per cent of applications which have been correctly filed are rejected. However Norway usually grants asylum to anyone facing real danger in their own homeland.
Immigrants are attracted to Norway’s welfare system and the chance that they can integrate peacefully into society. In recent years, however, Norway has tightened it rules on immigration.
> Densou. Perhaps they have read the book “An African in Greenland” by Tété-Michel Kpomassie, and thought it was about Grønland in Oslo ;-)
The mentioned book is really a fascinated story.
http://www.amazon.com/African-Greenland-Polish-Tete-Michel-Kpomassie/dp/0151055890
Dear Øystein, have you ever thought WHY those african guys prefer to seek asylum in Scandinavia rather than in the land of their ‘colonizers’ ?
Because they know it’s messed up and not worth at all as FIRST ! [It’s the mere true, not another my complaint againist this pitiful land ;) ]
På gjensyn ;)
3 Strange comments, seems written by the same person. The second must be converted from uppercases to lowercases.
Eritrea,God forsaken land.chain colonization by outsiders,even now by Eritreans.why is that?the people always in danger,prisons,unemployment,no Education.Ignorant president and his colleagues,,,,,
God help us,my friends,homiess,my classmates scattered in the world in need of help,may God almighty be with you.Those who are crossing deserts,oceans,we will pray for you.Don’t lose hope,God is never late,delay is not denial.
Stop defencing for such dictators, i think you dont know why you are here? instead of use as an excuse on so on so, why you didnt face what the real eritrean facing? eritrea is a big prison, because of one dictetor either with some one like you who support him, if you are real believe on a greatness of eritrea, which all we are dream on it with your self too what are you going to do here? sey for sure all we are eritrea agree on some thing, that is we are free and we struggle for that,we pay alot to regain our freedom, againest aggression of ethiopia, also the ethiopian our foe, but unfortunately replaced colony by tyrrany,
so can you tell me what about a jails aroud the country? can you tell me a prisoners of veterant, warrier herois, journalist, religious leaders, politics,
if i try to explain for you the time is not enough, because you dont like to admit your wrong doing, may be you are an agent. so i let you to judge you the real eritrean.
Stop spreading this false propoganda,we all know that these people are not from Great-Eritrea,but they are from the povery stricken country of Ethiopia.We Great-Eritreans know that the writer of this article is being paid by the U.S.and ethiopia to publish this nonsense article about Great-Eritrea.No Great-Eritrea in his/her right mind would ask for Asylum in Norway or other Westesrn Countries.