The Finnish Immigration Service is getting prepared to accommodate asylum seekers in tents. The Finnish Red Cross will be responsible for running the accommodation. The tents that are erected for asylum seekers are heated tents intended for use in crisis areas.
The Finnish Red Cross is pitching tents in the yards of reception centres. At first, tents are taken into use in Keuruu, Kauhava and Meltola, where around twenty tents with 20 beds each will be pitched.
The Finnish Immigration Service also promotes the use of containers for the accommodation of asylum seekers. For the time being, containers are used in the reception centre in Oulu and tested by Luona Oy in Espoo.
Already over 120 reception centres
Around one hundred new reception units have been set up in Finland this autumn. So far, we have found premises that are suitable for reception operations, but if the number of asylum seekers does not decrease, we will prepare to accommodate asylum seekers also in tents.
We continue the work to open new reception centres. Emergency accommodation units can also be turned into reception centres if the facilities are suitable for long-term accommodation.
Further information for the media
Jaana Vuorio, Director General, Finnish Immigration Service, 0295 430 431
Marita Salo, Director, Organisation, Finnish Red Cross, 020 701 2012
