From emergency to long-term response: UNHCR co-organized Nordic seminar on temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine

The war in Ukraine has forced millions of people to flee their homes and caused the largest displacement crisis in Europe since World War II. So far, some 165,000 refugees from Ukraine have sought safety in the Nordic countries, which is a record high number for the region.

On 8 December, some 9 months after welcoming the first refugees from Ukraine, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, co-organized together with the Nordic Council of Ministers a seminar for actors involved in the response to the Ukrainian refugee situation across the Nordic countries.

At the event, UNHCR’s Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries and Nordic Council of Ministers launched the report “Implementation of temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine”. The report provides an overview of the implementation of temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine in the five Nordic countries. The seminar also included a panel debate to create opportunities for dialogue and knowledge exchange.

“The Nordic countries have made great progress in receiving many refugees in a short time,” says UNHCR’s Erika Löfgren, Senior Durable Solutions Associate, who was coordinating the organization of the event.

“Even if there are similarities in the implementation of temporary protection, there are also many differences which affect what kind of rights and support the refugees receive.”

Challenges such as secondary movements as a result of differing standards, lack of housing and the need for a sustainable response were also discussed.

Around 80 participants from government administration, civil society and academia from all Nordic countries, as well as refugees, attended the seminar onsite in Stockholm, Sweden, while around 200 people watched online.

“The aim of the seminar was to give governments, civil society and other actors in the Nordic countries the opportunity to share experiences on what has worked well in the reception and integration of Ukrainian refugees and what can be improved as well as to discuss the priorities for the coming months,” says Erika Löfgren.

UNHCR also presented the preliminary findings from focus group discussions with Ukrainian refugees in Denmark, Finland and Sweden. The focus groups included Ukrainian refugees of different ages and gender as well as refugees with special needs.

Overall, the focus group participants felt warmly welcomed in all countries and appreciated the quality of the healthcare and education. But many also raised issues such as language barriers and challenges in navigating bureaucratic systems and sustaining a daily living. UNHCR will publish a more detailed report on the findings from the focus group discussions during the first quarter of 2023. Read more here.

Watch the first part of the seminar here.