Sweden deemed worst host for Ukrainian refugees among Nordic countries: Report

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - A recent report by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) suggested that that there is a huge difference in terms of how Ukrainian refugees are received in Nordic countries, with Sweden rated the worst, local media reported Monday.

According to the report, Sweden pays out the lowest daily allowance to the refugees and unlike other countries in the region, it does not offer them full access to care.

Nor does Sweden offer introductory programs or language teaching, which Denmark, Norway and Finland do.

In the Scandinavian country, Ukrainian refugees are denied medical attention unless it is an emergency, which is not the case in the neighboring countries.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, over 158,200 Ukrainian refugees have applied for protection in Nordic countries, with most of them fleeing to Sweden.

“When we implemented the mass flight directive, we hoped that it would be for a shorter period of time,” Sweden's Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told local broadcaster SVT.

“But I think there is every reason for the government, if the war continues for a long time, to naturally look at this,” said Stenergard.

The minister however revealed that the government is not currently planning to review the conditions.