Under 1997 amendments, Sweden may also grant such status in situations of mass flight. Temporary protection is granted initially for two years with the possibility of renewal for another two years as long as the recipients have begun preparing to return to their home countries. Persons granted temporary protection are entitled to work and to bring their immediate families to Sweden. They are housed in government-sponsored reception centers or, if it can be arranged, in private accommodation. They receive the same social welfare benefits and emergency health care as asylum seekers.
Minors have access to full health-care facilities.
The government withdrew the bill in March 2000 following criticism by the political opposition, nongovernmental organizations, and a parliamentary committee. Under the proposal, persons in situations of mass flight would have been given temporary protection but would have been ineligible to apply for asylum for two years. Resettled Refugees Sweden's resettlement quota in 2000 was targeted at 1,800 persons. During the year, Sweden actually resettled 1,501 persons. During the year, the immigration board cancelled a trip to Iraq to select 300 refugees for resettlement, after Iraqi authorities refused to allow departures from the northern zone.