Refugees in the Faroe Islands: Finding peace and safety

Since spring the Faroe Islands have been welcoming displaced people from Ukraine, among them Irina Nikolaieva, her husband Yurii Nikolaiev and their one-year-old

Difficult Journey

On first attempt the Ukrainian authorities refused to let them cross into Poland, all men between 18 and 60 are conscripted. But Yurii has a hip injury that renders him unable to serve. When the paperwork comes through they cross to find chaos also reigning on the other side, though volunteers are doing their utmost to provide emergency assistance. They wind up sleeping on the floor of a Polish nursery with hundreds of others.

They try to board a train for Germany, but every carriage is crammed with refugees. Then, out of the blue, they receive unexpected news from an aid worker: They will be offered refugee in the North Atlantic.

“We were thrilled. We’d never heard of the Faroe Islands, but it didn’t matter. We just had to get away from the atrocities,” Irina and Yurii say.

They were driven across the continent, put on a ferry to Denmark and finally on a flight to the Faroe Islands. Exhaustion and bewilderment had them concerned, “We feared we had ended in the wrong hands, criminal gangs are known to exploit people’s misfortunates. Fortunately, kind people on board calmed us and when we spotted Red Cross representatives we felt we could breathe easy,” Irina and Yurii explain.

Warm Welcome

The Faroese efforts to welcome refugees have been coordinated by public authorities, the Red Cross and a host of volunteers.

Irina and Yurii were settled in a house in Klaksvík. Yurii has found a permanent job at KJ Hydraulik and little Oleg has a place at nursery.

Though they still need an interpreter and say they have much to learn about the Faroe Islands they are happy to be here, “We have been welcomed with open arms. We are so happy and grateful for all the help. People come visit every day and are always ready to lend a hand. And the country is beautiful, peaceful and safe.”

Immense Grief

Beyond relief and gratitude, however, deep sorrow looms. They fear for family and friends who cannot leave. They are in touch every day, but calls are often cut short by air raid sirens.

The longing and uncertainty are hard to bear. They don’t know how long they will be in exile. Kharkiv is in ruins, nobody knows how long it will take to rebuild or even when rebuilding can begin. “Ukraine and Kharkiv are our home. Always in our hearts, but we are thrilled about the goodwill we meet here,” Irina and Yurii say.

The family takes each day as it comes. For now, they have a two-year work permit in the Faroe Islands.

Goodwill And Generosity

Red Cross Faroe Islands has played a major role in the relief work. Alongside private individuals, the organisation has urged the Government to open up to refugees.

Jóannes Eidesgaard chairs Red Cross Faroe Islands, “We have experienced such goodwill among the Faroese towards receiving and helping refugees. The old fear of the unknown and unfamiliar appears to have vanished. Everyone wants to help.”

The Red Cross welcomes refugees and brings them to a reception house in Tórshavn, from here the Red Cross tries to find permanent housing and establish networks, so that schools and workplaces can be ready to help newcomers settle. Ukrainian families have found new homes across the archipelago and the Red Cross has launched an initiative to twin them with local families.

A spring concert also raised DKK 9 million towards Red Cross relief work, an enormous figure for the population size.

Safe Haven

At present there are 60 registered refugees in the Faroe Islands. But there is room for more, the Faroese Parliament has authorised the reception of up to 200.

People fleeing war need varying levels of support, and the chair of the Red Cross is certain that the islands are ready to receive them. One concern among politicians has been that the Faroese have no experience or systems in place. But Jóannes Eidesgaard dismisses that argument, “Only by welcoming refugees will we gain experience.”

He is convinced that as it gradually becomes entirely natural to think of the Faroe Islands as a country in the ranks of safe havens for refugees, politicians will no longer hesitate.

And the Red Cross stands ready to help, irrespective of nationality, political or religious beliefs. The Red Cross will always put people first. Irina, Yurii and Oleg can attest to this.