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Redir Amin says that 2020 was a bad year for many. For him, the end was terrible. New Year’s Eve was celebrated in a hotel room. Now he hopes for a better 2021.
He had to flee into the night, with his mother and brother. On New Year’s Eve, you are sitting in a hotel room. Photo: Dan P. Neegaard
The plan was to celebrate the New Year at home, with family and friends. Aftenposten met him at the reception of the Olavsgård hotel. The police and civil defense make sure that the guests can be at peace, photography is absolutely prohibited.
The mood is moderate. Sometimes someone comes with a bag or box of gifts. Red Cross teams make sure everyone is doing their best. The hotel staff constantly present cakes and treats.
Amin says they got some good food, but New Years Eve isn’t what he expected.
– 2020 was a terrible year for everyone, he says.
Out in the dark
For the 25-year-old, the end of the year was a nightmare. On New Year’s Eve night, he sat in his apartment watching a movie. At four o’clock the power went out and the brother yelled that there was no tap water.
Then they noticed the noise of the helicopters. Shortly after, a neighbor knocked on the door and yelled that everyone had to flee.
Amin woke up his mother and together with his brother they ran out into the dark.
– Mom was alone in the baby, I put on sweatpants and a jacket, he says.
It was completely dark outside, except for the light from the helicopters.
– I haven’t been to war, and I don’t know what it’s like. But this was scary, he says.
Neighbors said they had to go up to the town hall. Amin helped his mother on the ten minute journey.
They did not know what had happened, only that they and all the neighbors had to flee from home.
– I thought mainly about helping mom, she is sick, says Amin.
Unexpected guests at Olavsgård are well catered for, but Amin hopes to move on soon. Photo: Dan P. Neegaard
The house is on the edge
Now he knows that the house he lives in is about 50 feet from the fast edge and that much of the neighborhood where he thrived so well has disappeared.
On your way to a new year, you find it difficult to look forward.
– I really don’t think much about what happens with the house and the car. First of all, I’m glad the family is safe. But I think a lot about the ten that haven’t been found and I hope they show up.
It has a lot to say about the support system and the follow-up. But he doesn’t want to stay long in Olavsgård.
– It doesn’t feel like a vacation, even if we stay in a hotel, says Amin.
– I would like to have my own room and privacy.
In 2016, he was proud when he bought his first apartment, in the municipality where he grew up. Now he doesn’t know if he dares to back down.
– I can’t do anything anyway. Now I only take one day at a time. We can’t plan now, until we get more information, but I know it will all work out.
