A major Icelandic child protection facility, Stuðlar, remains open despite not meeting the required fire-safety standards, according to reporting by RÚV on Tuesday. The premises continue to be used, even after the Ombudsman for Children publicly raised concerns and called attention to ongoing safety issues.
The Ombudsman for Children has raised serious objections to Stuðlar operating without an official safety inspection. Letters about the situation have been sent to the Ministry of Education and Children and to Reykjavík’s building inspector, the Ombudsman confirmed.
Concerns about Stuðlar’s safety follow a fatal fire at the facility two years ago that claimed the life of a 17-year-old boy. Despite this tragedy and recent scrutiny, no information has yet been released on whether an official safety inspection has taken place since the Ombudsman’s intervention or if authorities intend to close or limit the facility’s use.
Hlévangur nursing home reopens in Reykjanesbær after renovations
In contrast to the situation at Stuðlar, the Hlévangur nursing home in Reykjanesbær has been taken back into use following extensive renovations, according to the Government of Iceland. Hlévangur now offers 24 nursing places, and the first residents have already moved in.
The Hlévangur building is owned by Reykjanesbær, which carried out the renovations, while Suðurnes Hospital & Health Center (HSS) (Heilbrigðisstofnun Suðurnesja) will operate the home. At the home’s official reopening, Minister of Health Alma D. Möller spoke about the government’s efforts to address infrastructure shortfalls, and Inga Sæland, responsible for expanding nursing capacity, highlighted the importance of providing care for the country’s oldest citizens.
Background
Reykjanesbær is a municipality on Iceland’s Southern Peninsula consisting of the towns Keflavík and Njarðvík and the village of Hafnir. It was created in 1994 by merging these communities, and is now the fourth largest municipality in Iceland and the most populous in the Suðurnes region outside Greater Reykjavík.
Sources
- Stjórnarráð Íslands (Government of Iceland) in Icelandic
- RÚV (first reported) in Icelandic
