Refugees displaced from Ukraine in South Ostrobothnia

This report examines the situation of people displaced from Ukraine who have applied for temporary protection in South Ostrobothnia region of Finland. It shows the ways in which the South Ostrobothnia network of authorities, together with non-governmental organisations and volunteers, have succeeded in welcoming Ukrainians, finding that the overall experience of these new arrivals in the region has been positive. This was found to be mainly due to attitudes of solidarity and the desire to help on the part of locals, as well as to the large role played by non-governmental organisations and volunteers.

Research for the project was conducted via interviews between August 2022 and February 2023. Those interviewed included refugees displaced from Ukraine, representatives of South Ostrobothnia authorities, representatives of third sector organisations, and other relevant parties involved in crisis management. The project was funded by the Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia, the Western Finland District of the Finnish Red Cross, and the Migration Institute of Finland.

Key research findings include the following:

• Even though the region was unprepared for the crisis, a sense of community and positive circumstances promoted a successful crisis response;
• Living outside institutions, in a rented apartment area, enables a more 'normal' family life for new arrivals;
• Due to the decentralised nature of the reception model in Finland, some Ukrainians have not received enough official information and therefore might not be aware of their rights and the services they are entitled to access;
• Cooperation between authorities and volunteers proved difficult due to the lack of necessary capacities for regional coordination;
• Regardless of many practical difficulties related to the reception process, interaction between refugees displaced from Ukraine and South Ostrobothnia residents has been positive.

The report proposes that in the future municipalities focus on local housing shortages, increase the capacity of service systems and actively acquire rental apartments. At the same time, it concludes that the already positive encounters between newcomers and residents will affect how the region views immigration and refugees in the future. The important lessons learnt in this region have the potential to be transferred - and adapted to the specific contexts of - other regions across the country.