Sweden plans for war: Burial sites for 500,000 people being prepared

Sweden is making extensive preparations for a potential war scenario, including plans to establish burial sites capable of accommodating at least 500,000 individuals. The Church of Sweden, which is responsible for managing burials, has stated that it cannot handle such a large-scale operation independently and will require assistance from other organizations and potentially the public.

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We want all deceased to be handled with respect and dignity.

"We want all deceased to be handled with respect and dignity," said Anki Bondesson, national burial coordinator at the Church of Sweden. The church has historically maintained contingency plans for wartime situations and has recently intensified its preparedness efforts. This focus on readiness has increased across society, including within the church's burial services.

These preparations come amid a heightened security landscape in Europe, particularly following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Swedish officials, including Minister for Civil Defense Carl-Oskar Bohlin and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, have warned that war could reach Sweden, emphasizing that while the country is not currently at war, "peace does not prevail."

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The engagement has increased throughout society, and so has it within the Church of Sweden and the burial activities.

The Church of Sweden is a key participant in the country's total defense system, which aims to prepare Sweden for war. Bondesson highlighted the importance of recent exercises conducted with other agencies and authorities as a crucial part of these preparations. The church is the main burial authority in Sweden, except in Stockholm and Tranås, where municipalities hold this role. Their responsibility includes ensuring sufficient burial grounds are available for at least five percent of the population in all of Sweden's over 1,200 parishes.

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An important part that we have now focused a lot on in recent years is exercises. It is an important part of the preparations. We conduct those exercises together with other actors and authorities.