We maintain the reception centres

The Finnish Red Cross establishes reception centres on the request of the Finnish Immigration Service. The state pays for the expenses of reception and is responsible for processing the applications for asylum. The Finnish Immigration Service also makes the decisions on establishing new reception centres and closing existing ones. The Red Cross maintains approximately half of the reception centres in Finland. 

Asylum seekers live in the reception centres while they wait for the decision on whether they will be granted asylum. Red Cross volunteers have an important role in the everyday lives of those living in the reception centres.

The volunteers organise various activities around Finland, such as cooking clubs, women’s groups and Finnish conversation clubs.

We meet the quota refugees at the airport

The Red Cross receives the quota refugees arriving in Finland at Helsinki-Vantaa airport. At the airport, the refugees are aided by Red Cross workers, volunteers trained for the task, and professional interpreters.

A quota refugee is a person who comes to Finland, usually directly from a refugee camp, as a part of the annual refugee quota defined by the Finnish parliament. Quota refugees are placed directly in municipalities.

In recent years, the municipalities have taken in few quota refugees. This is why many of the refugees who have already been granted residence have been forced to wait for years in the refugee camps to get to Finland. The Red Cross influences the municipalities and works to get them to accept more refugees.

Why do we aid asylum seekers and refugees?

The Red Cross aids people in the most vulnerable position across the globe, including refugees and asylum seekers. The basis of our operations is ensuring human rights and legal protection.