A queue that stretches around a bend, down a road and into a church. In recent weeks, the poorhouse has seen a huge increase in the number of visitors.
On Wednesday, there are many hundreds of people in line. Most of those who have gotten up early and waited several hours in the cold for a carrier bag with free food are Ukrainian refugees.
– It is very expensive with food in Norway, says Ukrainian Anna. She has got up at six o’clock to secure a place almost first in the queue.
– LONG QUEUE: After the war broke out, there have been long queues outside the Poor House. Photo: Marte Christensen / TV 2
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They have fled Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv and Pavlograd. All the women TV 2 talks to are grateful to be in Norway, and grateful for all the help they receive.
But the food budget is not enough, and this is the best way to secure enough food.
– We need more food than we can buy ourselves, says fifteen-year-old Lisa Bielova.
Must buy and cook yourself
Two days a week, Fattighuset in Oslo distributes free food. Since the outbreak of the war, more and more Ukrainian refugees have taken advantage of the offer.
– We heard about this from someone else at the reception. It is a fantastic offer, says Bielova.
– ESCAPE: Lisa and Svitlana fled for several days from their hometown Dnipro to come to Norway. Photo: Marte Christensen / TV 2
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Together with her mother, she lives in what used to be a disused nursing home on Tåsen, which has now been converted into an emergency room for refugees.
There they are not served food, but have a kitchen available where they can cook their own food.
– I’m really very fond of cooking, but not now, says Svitlana Bielova.
In Ukraine she worked in a restaurant, but it is not as fun to cook here in Norway when they can not afford all the food they need.
– Have nothing
Every week, Lisa and Svitlana receive a gift card for Rema 1000 that will cover the cost of food.
They get the 1000 kroner available. 500 kroner per person. Just over 70 kroner per day.
– 1000 kroner is not that much, so it does not last. That is why we come here, says Bielova.
– ONLY THEY GET: This gift card on Rema 1000 is the only money the two get. Photo: Marte Christensen / TV 2
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The two fled their hometown of Dnipro shortly after the war broke out. After several days on the run, they came to Norway, a country they have never been to before.
– We have saved some money for an emergency, but otherwise we have nothing, says Bielova.
Over 600 in line
The volunteers at Fattighuset have hectic days and work hard to pick up food, fill up bags and make sure people keep their place in the queue.
– CLEAR INCREASE: Berger has noticed a clear increase in refugees in recent weeks. Photo: Marte Christensen / TV 2
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– The queues have become very long, so there is always something to do, says Reidun Berger.
She has been a volunteer at the poorhouse since it was established in 1994 and thinks there are surprisingly many who have turned up this cold Wednesday morning.
After the war broke out, the queue outside the church has become longer and longer. The volunteers estimate that around 60 percent of those who show up are refugees.
– We get more and more every time. On Friday, more than 600 people stopped by, says Lisbeth Hvalby, board member of Fattighuset.
– SHOCKED: Hvalby is shocked that the state is not doing more. Photo: Ole Thomas / TV 2
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If this development continues, the Poor House will have problems distributing food to everyone who comes.
– It’s sad, it’s bad and it’s a shame that they have to come here to get enough food. The public sector should take care of this, says Hvalby.
– TICKETS: On Wednesday, several hundred tickets were distributed. This must be shown in order to receive food. Photo: Marte Christensen / TV 2
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68 kroner a day
Many emergency rooms have canteens where refugees receive at least four meals per day.
At the same time, the UDI confirms to TV 2 that there are 32 emergency accommodation without food service. At these receptions, the residents have to buy and cook themselves.
Those who live in an emergency room with a canteen receive NOK 447 a month, while those who have to buy food themselves receive NOK 2,044 a month. This corresponds to just over NOK 68 per day.
– There are relatively low rates that apply to refugees and asylum seekers, says UDI director Frode Forfang.
– SAME AMOUNT: UDI director Frode Forfang says that all refugees receive the same amount when they come to Norway. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB
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– Is it enough with less than 70 kroner per day?
– In principle, it should be enough to cover the basic needs. This is not meant to last for a longer period, so we hope that the refugees get into a more normal situation in the municipalities as soon as possible, says Forfang.
Half of asylum seekers are hungry
A study from the Oslo Met in 2018 showed that almost half of asylum seekers at Norwegian reception centers experienced being hungry. Nine out of ten answered that they did not have access to safe and nutritious food.
– It does not surprise me that Ukrainian refugees have to go to the poorhouse. There are many other refugees who do the same, says researcher Laura Terragni, associate professor of Social Work at Oslo Met.
– NO CHANGE: The study was conducted in 2018 but researcher Laura Terragni says that they see no signs that the situation has changed, Photo: Benjamin Ward / OsloMet
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Their reference budget for 2021 estimates that a person needs around 3100 kroner for food a month. But the refugees will only get 2044.
– It goes without saying that it is not enough, says Terragni.
Happy with today’s catch
With a yellow, rose or white note, the several hundred present are guaranteed a bag of food when the distribution starts.
– COLOR: One of the volunteers has noted what colors the tickets are this day. Photo: Marte Christensen / TV 2
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After waiting another two hours, Lisa and Svitlana have finally secured two carrier bags.
– Milk, yoghurt, onions, butter and fruit, says Svitlana Bielova while she analyzes the contents of the bag.
They are very happy with today’s catch. In addition to some good staples, they have also received jelly and chocolate pudding.
– What will be for dinner tonight?
– Today it will be borscht. Real Ukrainian soup, says Svitlana.
New queue
Before the mother and daughter return to the reception, they must first line up in a new long queue. Just five minutes away is the distribution of free clothes to Ukrainian refugees.
Nearly a hundred refugees have already gathered outside the premises of the organization Young Norway.
– We have been here once before and then I got these pants, says Lisa.
– CLOTHES: The small family is happy that there are places where they can get both food and clothes for free. Photo: Marte Christensen / TV 2
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There is a lot that needs to be fixed when you have left everything you own and fled to a new country. Although the days involve a lot of waiting and charity, Lisa and Svitlana are grateful for all the help they receive.
– We are so happy for all the help we get. Norway is a fantastic country, with fantastic people, says Svitlana.
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