Sweden gives ‘new chance at life’ for 300 quota refugees

AMMAN — Some 300 quota refugees this week were received by Swedish Ambassador to Jordan Erik Ullenhag, who welcomed them at his residence to bid them farewell before their resettlement in Sweden later this year.

Quota refugees (or resettlement refugees) are usually people who are registered as refugees by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), but who cannot be offered a permanent solution in the country they are currently in and who are therefore offered resettlement in a third country, according to the UNHCR website.

Sweden, which is one of the few countries taking part in UNHCR’s resettlement programme, alongside the United States, Canada, Australia and other Nordic countries, has been organising information days like the one held at the ambassador’s residence in Amman, to provide future guests with the necessary tools to prepare themselves with resettlement. 

“Maybe we will all meet again in Sweden — I will speak to you in Arabic and, Insh’Allah, you will answer me in Swedish,” the ambassador told the attendees in his welcoming speech. 

Acknowledging that he did not learn “much Arabic” during his two years in Jordan, Ullenhag modestly explained that the quota refugees will probably be much quicker in learning Swedish in their new home country. He introduced them to a newly launched and user-friendly application for Arabic speakers to learn Swedish. 

The ambassador welcomed the 300 refugees who have been granted permanent residence permits in Sweden, noting that they are part of a total of 800 refugees from Jordan who will resettle in the Nordic country in 2018.

Resettlement states provide quota refugees with legal and physical protection, including access to civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights similar to those enjoyed by nationals, the UNHCR said, highlighting that “resettlement is a life-changing experience which is both challenging and rewarding. Refugees are often resettled to a country where the society, language and culture are completely different and new to them”.

To respond to the challenges stemming from such an important change, the attendees witnessed two presentations about Sweden, before being offered the chance to browse five different stations presented by embassy staff on various themes.

In one of the stations, guests got to observe an exhibition of letters from Syrian quota refugees already in Sweden. In the letters, the writers shared their thoughts and experiences of their lives in Sweden, giving future residents a chance to learn more about the resettlement process. 

In other stations, the Swedish ambassador and other embassy staff answered more general questions about Sweden, as well as acquainted them with Swedish geography and climate, through the display of a Swedish map that helped guests to better visualise their new country. 

The guests expressed their great appreciation for the initiative, highlighting the usefulness of such an informative day.

“Most asked questions about travel dates, family reunification and validation of foreign education,” said Shirin Jamshir, communication officer at the embassy, adding “when asked what they already knew about Sweden, many replied long and cold winters and two centuries of peace and stability”. 

“IKEA was also well known,” she added jokingly, stressing “with this reception, the embassy hoped to reach as many quota refugees as possible before their departure to Sweden. Mainly, we hoped to welcome the families and prepare them for their new lives in Sweden”.