In the wake of the ongoing arrival of refugees from the war to Ukraine, the City of Copenhagen has committed to house 330 refugees in a large pavilion at Amager Strand, along with plans to house 2,000 more around the corner, which must be approved.
The city will renovate an existing pavilion used to store, among other things, “winter service, lost property and city furniture” to create a village for Ukrainians with accommodation, day care and offices.
The project will cost 71 million kroner, and it must be completed by the end of July.
Not our first time
“We are in a very special situation where there are so many displaced people in Copenhagen that we have to give a roof over our heads,” says Jens-Kristian Lütken, the new mayor of employment and integration, to TV2.
“These pavilions must also be used for schools and institutions, and that is a sensible solution. It will be a bit reminiscent of the refugee villages that were established when the Bosnians fled war in the 1990s. “
Lütken is convinced that the structure of the community will not stand out in a parallel society: “The difference between Danes and Ukrainians is not as great as the difference between Danes and other groups. At the same time, many Ukrainians are trying to enter the labor market. “
What will that mean?
Living and common areas are fully furnished with beds, tables, chairs and more.
City Hall will take care of recruiting staff, such as social caretakers and volunteer support.
The first DKK 44 million comes from two budget pools: one for unforeseen construction costs, and the other for unforeseen service costs. The remaining funds are likely to be taken from the city’s 2023 budget.
Another 10,670 left
Although the pavilion is an admirable achievement, the residence of 330 refugees in this small town center is far from the goal of housing up to 11,000 Ukrainians.
According to the agenda of the meeting of the Citizens’ Representation, the city has to date accommodated 1,000 Ukrainians. It seems to house another 570 in Ottiliavej, Kisebærhavens and Højdevangens Sognes nursing homes.
Hotels: expensive and untenable
Many asylum seekers are accommodated in the hotel chain Cabinn, which Lütken is quite dissatisfied with.
“At Cabinn there are four bunk beds and you have to back in. There is a need for places where they can talk to each other and meet across,” he told TV2.
An estimated risk
The pavilion homes are adjacent to Prøvestenen, which is within the island’s ‘Risk Zone’, because fuel and other explosives are stored there.
Before complete approval can be given to the pavilion, Hovedstadens Beredskab, Arbejdstilsynet and the Copenhagen Police must undergo a risk assessment to ensure that proper evacuation protocols are in place.
Another decision will meanwhile be made by the City Hall’s finance committee, whether more funds should be set aside so that another 2,000 refugees can settle in similar housing on extensive grasslands around the corner from the site.
After yesterday’s review in the Employment and Integration Committee and today’s Finance Committee decision, the final step towards approval of the initial project will take place at tomorrow’s Citizens’ Representation Meeting.
Source: The Nordic Page