Kalistani Major History

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First Lourennais Refugees Arrive in Kaliburg
AeroKal flights from Eroncourt to double over the next week
Kaliburg, Ananto
November 1, 5089


Those fleeing the coming civil War in Lourenne have increased from a trickle to more than 400 a day in the last 8 weeks

At the International Terminal in Republican International Airport in Kaliburg, customs agents are working overtime to ensure that arriving Lourennais Nationals who are leaving Lourenne temporarily can get to the various services that the Republican Government has set up to accommodate them. The Government has set up "The Office Of Refugee Inprocessing" under the Foreign Ministry to begin ensuring that those fleeing Lourenne's civil war are provided with all documents necessary, as well as offering a host of services, such as immunizations and free physical check ups, a small upfront cash payment of close to K100 a person, expanded cambio and banking services, and temporary shelter for new arrivals. Certified counsellors associated with the Ananto Yearly Meeting are also on hand to offer counselling services for all those who have experienced trauma in Lourenne.

"We are doing what we can to make sure that the new arrivals' needs are being met, for the short term," said Office Spokesman Garret Newton. "We want to make sure that our friends are comfortable, and can offer them a bed for the night and then allow them, on their first full day in country, to access a number of different options, including hostel and hotel vouchers for single individuals and families respectively, as well as homestays, internet and phone services, and financial services. Once they arrive, we consider them, for the purposes of our law, citizens of the Republic, and we want to make sure they have access to the same benefits that all citizens have, regardless of their situation."

The Office conducts entry interviews, which are cursory and involve basic questions such as: Do you plan to remain in the Republic for more than 6 months? Do you have friends or Family within the Republic? What are your essential skills/profession in Lourenne? Will you be interested in working for pay while in Kalistan? and so forth. Single young men and women are in particularly high demand, and are welcomed to join the National Service Program on a temporary basis, if they are so interested, to provide them with semi permanent employment and housing, provided they speak Vrassan semi-fluently. But employment is not required for entry or to remain within the Republic.

Most of those who anticipate remaining in Kalistan for the long term are encouraged to begin to seek permanent residence and employment throughout the Republic. "We want to make sure that the new arrivals understand that the facilities that they first encounter are only intended to be temporary, and they are highly encouraged to go elsewhere within the Republic to get more settled. We only intend for each new arrival to remain here at the inprocessing center for a week at the most. But we anticipate a larger influx of refugees, and so it is imperative that those who seek shelter and respite from the fighting go look for an apartment and a job somewhere else in the Republic." The Office particularly recommends the Lourennais enclave at Dulnerstaad as a starting point.

"Years ago, the Republic welcomed a significant number of Lourennais citizens to settle in Dulnerstaad. Close enough to their homeland so they could return at their leisure, but far enough away that they could bring a new flavor to Kalistani culture. That enclave has kept their traditions, and though hundreds of years have passed, they still maintain much of those traditions. The new arrivals may feel more comfortable among people who they can speak with in their own language, and who sort of straddle both worlds and can teach them about integrating into a wider Kalistani society."

AeroKal, Kalistan's primary commercial airline, is expecting to double flights to the Republic from Eroncourt. "The Airline has generously offered subsidies for plane tickets and will fly all those seeking asylum in the Republic tickets at cost," said Newton. "Our goal is to ensure that all those who do not seek involvement in this civil war can find safety and peace in the Republic, and go on about their lives with minimal disruption." Newton expects anywhere from 100 to 300 thousand refugees from Lourenne, "...but we are prepared for more if they come."