2 refugee centres for minors to shut down in Sept

The Finnish Immigration Services (Migri) decided to close down two refugee centres for minor children at Tampere and Siuntio by the end of September, said a Migri press release on Thursday.

The operations of the group home in Tampere and the group home and supported housing unit in Siuntio having 26 beds for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers.

Beds will also be reduced at group homes and supported housing units in Espoo, Kotka, Oravainen and Turku.

By the end of June, five beds will be reduced at each reception centre.

The accommodation capacity is being reduced because the need for beds is decreasing.

Considerably less asylum seekers than before have arrived in Finland.

At the moment, eight reception centres for unaccompanied minors are in operation and about 70 children or young people live at these centres, the press release added.

In addition to this, the accommodation capacity of the reception centre in Kauhava will be reduced in September.

At the moment, the number of beds is 300. After the change, there will be only 200 beds. Both adults and families live at the reception centre in Kauhava.