Emad Birsali is seeking asylum in Sweden. Photo: The Local
Märsta is the first port of call for hundreds of refugees arriving in Sweden every week. The bland, red brick building complex currently houses up to 150 people each night, in single sex dormitories or family rooms. Anyone seeking asylum and without an address in Sweden is entitled to seek temporary emergency accommodation for up to three nights while they wait for their initial application to be processed. The centre is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Staff member Anna Andersson with the welcome bags given to refugees. Photo: The Local
Sweden's Migration Board (Migrationsverket) offers translators in many languages. Photo: The Local
Immigration officials at Märsta conduct interviews with each new asylum seeker and take fingerprints to check that they have not already been registered elsewhere in the EU. Those who have could be sent back, because of EU laws stating that all migrants should have their claims processed in the member state in which they first arrive. Those judged to be genuine applicants are transferred on to a second processing centre in Gävle, a ninety minute drive north. They spend several more days there while their paperwork is dealt with before being sent to more permanent housing elsewhere in Sweden. The country aims to consider all asylum requests within three months, although for some it can take considerably longer.
Refaat Sharrook from Syria hopes to find work in Sweden. Video: The Local
The playground at the reception centre. Photo: Maja Suslin/TT