From Iceland — Akureyri Ready To Receive More Refugees

Akureyri Ready To Receive More Refugees

Published November 24, 2016

Andie Sophia Fontaine
Photo by
Art Bicnick

Akureyri is once again ready and willing to accept refugees, adding to those they already welcomed with open arms last year.

RÚV reports that the Ministry of Welfare and Akureyri Town Council have agreed that the town will accept another refugee family. This family has connections with another family already living in the town, making Akureyri an idea place for them to settle.

Akureyri made headlines last year when they became the first Icelandic town to accept Syrian refugees.

“The way we see it, if everyone shoulders this social responsibility, it’s possible we could solve this problem,” town council chairperson Guðmundur Baldvin Guðmundsson told reporters at the time.

Since then, the refugees have been well received. In fact, the majority of Akureyri residents viewed their new neighbours positively, and they have by all accounts had a fairly smooth transition in making a life for themselves in Iceland.

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