STOCKHOLM, Sweden— Dozens of Kurdish families in Sweden have provided accommodation to the growing number of child migrants who have traveled to the country without either of their parents.
Sweden has given asylum to a record number of refugees in 2015, many of them under 18 years of age, considered children according to the Swedish laws.
To manage nearly 23,000 child migrants, the authorities have asked willing families to embrace the underage migrants in return for economic assistance.
“The hosting family receives a monthly payment of 17,000 krona (ca $2000) for each child migrant until they turn 18,” said Sardar Saeed a Kurdish social worker in the municipality of Stockholm.
“Many families exploit the economic benefit and embrace more than one child but there are families that really want to stand up and help these children regardless of the money,” Saeed told Rudaw.
Swedish government’s decision to give asylum status to more than 80,000 migrants has polarized the country with the anti-immigrant parties winning unprecedented sympathy from voters.
According to latest opinion polls Sweden Democrats (SD), considered a far-right populist party, would receive 28,5 percent of the votes if there were an election in December 2015.
“We have had very pleasant working relationships with Kurdish families who have assumed responsibility for child migrants,” said Katarina Malm who works as a sociologist for the municipality of Stockholm.
She told Rudaw hosting Kurdish families have worked closely with the municipalities for an active role in the children’s development.
Sweden has given asylum to a record number of refugees in 2015, many of them under 18 years of age, considered children according to the Swedish laws.
To manage nearly 23,000 child migrants, the authorities have asked willing families to embrace the underage migrants in return for economic assistance.
“The hosting family receives a monthly payment of 17,000 krona (ca $2000) for each child migrant until they turn 18,” said Sardar Saeed a Kurdish social worker in the municipality of Stockholm.
“Many families exploit the economic benefit and embrace more than one child but there are families that really want to stand up and help these children regardless of the money,” Saeed told Rudaw.
Swedish government’s decision to give asylum status to more than 80,000 migrants has polarized the country with the anti-immigrant parties winning unprecedented sympathy from voters.
According to latest opinion polls Sweden Democrats (SD), considered a far-right populist party, would receive 28,5 percent of the votes if there were an election in December 2015.
“We have had very pleasant working relationships with Kurdish families who have assumed responsibility for child migrants,” said Katarina Malm who works as a sociologist for the municipality of Stockholm.
She told Rudaw hosting Kurdish families have worked closely with the municipalities for an active role in the children’s development.
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