New Cities and Migration | Bologna

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Vulnerability | Asylum seekers are a multifaceted group and most of them have plenty of resources and are well adapted. Still there will always be some who may be regarded as vulnerable and who will demand special follow-up support. In Norwegian regulations the term ‘residents with special needs’ is used and it is stated by the immigration authorities that these people should have adapted accommodation (UDI, 2008/2015). This goes among others for victims of torture or harassment, children and single minors, single mothers, disabled people, people with mental illnesses and chronic diseases. Privacy | Being in an insecure and vulnerable life situation implies that there is a special need to have a sheltered private life. Cultural and language barriers between groups of asylum seekers put extra demands on those who unwillingly have to share rooms. We may assume that the need for privacy will increase with the length of the stay. Research has shown that over-crowdedness and lack of privacy may lead to mental illness and have long term negative effects on children’s development (Berg, Tronstad, 2015). Protection and control | Asylum seekers who have been victims of torture or other kinds of violent harassment are particularly sensible towards strong sounds, smells or visual impressions, not at least towards situations that may remind them of what they have been exposed to in their earlier life. This includes situations which can be misunderstood or which may increase the lack of control (Sveaass, Johansen, 2006). They are often bothered


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