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Such an initiative appeared against the background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
The current bomb shelters cover only 45% of Norway's population, compared to 90% in Finland, 80% in Denmark and 70% in Sweden.
The Norwegian government plans to restore the requirement to build bomb shelters in new buildings, which was canceled almost 30 years ago. This provision should become part of the country's new civil defense plan. This was reported by Bloomberg on Friday, January 10.
The construction of shelters in new buildings is considered as a component of a set of measures to increase the resilience of society to crisis situations. Such an initiative appeared against the background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In 1998, Norway stopped the mandatory construction of bomb shelters in all new buildings with an area of more than 1000 square meters. This led to the fact that in 27 years, not a single new shelter was built in the country.
According to a government report, current bomb shelters provide only 45% of Norway's population, compared to 90% in Finland, 80% in Denmark and 70% in Sweden.
"The world is becoming more and more unpredictable. We have to implement the security of citizens in the worst case scenario - war or armed attack. Bomb shelters are one of the necessary protective measures," said Norway's Minister of Justice Emilia Enger Mähl.
According to preliminary forecasts, additional costs for organizing shelters will amount to more than 2,5 thousand euros (30 thousand Norwegian kroner) per person.