Sweden’s Funeral Services Seek to Secure Land for Mass Burials in Case of War
According to the Associated Press, Swedish funeral services in the country’s second-largest city, Gothenburg, are attempting to acquire additional land to secure grave sites for the burial of approximately 30,000 people, in addition to the land needed for regular cemetery use.
This effort comes as Swedish authorities have been preparing for the possibility of a large-scale war, with some estimates suggesting up to half a million potential casualties. In the beginning of the month, Swedish media reported that the authorities are preparing for the worst-case scenario, should the country enter a comprehensive war.
“In large cities, the resource of land is already limited, and it does not always suffice even in peaceful and calm times to meet the demand for cemeteries” Katarina Evenseth, the leading advisor of the Gothenburg Funeral Association, was quoted as saying by AP.
In October, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) published an updated guide for civil preparedness, providing instructions for survival in a war-torn conflict. The brochure, titled “In the Event of a Crisis or War” includes advice on evacuation, stopping bleeding, and other recommendations.
“The national security situation has dramatically changed, and we all must strengthen our resilience against various crises and, ultimately, against a war” said MSB Director-General Mikael Frisell last month.
Stockholm, which has abandoned its long-standing military neutrality, joined the NATO in March. The US-led alliance has been supporting Kiev with military aid, and in November, Washington approved strikes with its missiles deep in Russian territory. France has also suggested allowing Ukraine to use Paris-supplied missiles for self-defense against Russia.
Moscow has stated that the Storm Shadow cruise missiles, supplied by the UK, have already been used in such attacks, and confirmed that this step makes the NATO a direct party to the conflict. Critics of Sweden’s NATO membership believe that Sweden has become a potential target in the event of a war.
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson stated in October that Russia poses a threat to Sweden and that the country cannot rule out a Russian attack. Several other NATO members, including Poland and the Baltic states, have expressed similar concerns.
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed these claims as nonsense, reiterating last week that Moscow is “determined to end the conflict.