– It has gone fantastically well. These are some very nice people who are easy to work with.
– They are very grateful and come quickly through our procedures and adapt to the new conditions, says Secretary General Anders Ladekarl, Red Cross.
He estimates that the asylum center has received between 300 and 350 people since Thursday.
There are many families with children among them.
– Where it is most popular on Sandholm right now, is on playgrounds and in playrooms.
– The children have taken possession of it all and watch cartoons and have fun. They have very quickly adapted to the situation, says Anders Ladekarl.
The first Afghans arrived on Thursday noon, and new ones arrived on Thursday evening and Friday morning.
– Many are incredibly tired after a heartbreaking journey. Some are nervous and anxious about those they left behind at home, the general secretary said.
The Red Cross has psychologists standing ready to help process the trauma that the evacuees may have in their luggage.
– There have been some who have needed a talk. But they are first and foremost anxious for those who did not manage to come along, says Anders Ladekarl.
Once the corona quarantine is over, the children must, according to plan, in the internal school offer at the center.
– Tuesday we open for our school, kindergarten and leisure center. And then the adults need to be health checked and start figuring out what to do.
– Some need to learn Danish, and others may need to be activated.
– Then they can hopefully return to a slightly more normal life than they have had for the last while, says Anders Ladekarl.
With a political agreement, the Afghans are guaranteed a stay in Denmark for two years. The legal basis is expected to be adopted in the autumn.
Anders Ladekarl hopes for quick clarification so that the Afghans can move on.
– Center Sandholm is not designed for people living there for a long time. It is important to have their foundations clarified so that they can move forward in their lives, he says.
Exactly how many Afghans are to be accommodated in Center Sandholm, the Secretary General is currently not aware of.
The center has room for 500 residents.
Source: The Nordic Page