It has emerged what proportion of Ukrainian refugees in Norway do not plan to return
There are around 65,000 Ukrainian nationals in Norway who have fled the war.
More than a third (34%) of Ukrainians living in Norway since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion have no plans to return to Ukraine. This is according to a survey by Oslo Met, in which Ukrainian refugees were asked about their views on life in Norway, reports NRK.
At the same time, around 54 per cent of Ukrainian refugees said they were unsure whether they wanted to stay or return.
As the researchers note, these figures may fluctuate and much will depend on how long the war continues. Ukrainians’ decisions will also be influenced by ‘what the country will be like after the war ends’. This refers primarily to the state of the economy and security. Whether or not people have a place to live also influences their decision to return.
Researcher Wilde Gernes notes that the number of those who wish to stay in Norway permanently is constantly growing.
“These people have already put down roots in the country,” she remarked.
Gernes added that it will be a major challenge for the Norwegian authorities to decide what to do with the 65,000 Ukrainian refugees once the war is over.
“They will have to decide who will be allowed to stay in Norway and who will not,” she added.
It should be noted that Norway has begun individually reviewing applications from Ukrainians seeking asylum. In the event of a refusal, hundreds of Ukrainian citizens who are not covered by collective protection may be asked to leave the country. This concerns between 800 and 1,000 people who may be ordered to leave Norway. At present, three regions are considered safe for residence, according to the country’s authorities: Lviv, Volyn and Zakarpattia.
Earlier, Socportal reported that, according to the UN Refugee Agency, only half of Ukrainian children and young people are attending educational institutions in host countries. Unemployment is also a pressing issue, particularly as more than a third of families consist of a single adult woman who is responsible for supporting other relatives. These care responsibilities limit their choice of employment.
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