Asylum seekers: Berlin activates an emergency plan

The Berlin Senate has activated an emergency plan because of the mass influx of asylum seekers and is now opening a large tent for around nine hundred people on the site of the former Tegel Airport. Originally, the tent was intended to accommodate Ukrainians who are not counted as asylum seekers. Of these, however, fewer than expected reach the capital.

Instead, almost a thousand additional asylum seekers poured into Berlin reception facilities in May alone, including 456 Moldovans, 147 Georgians, 92 Afghans, 82 Syrians, 70 Turks, 58 Vietnamese and 16 Iranians. The Berlin Senate blamed other federal states for the flood of asylum seekers. Due to capacity problems, they would no longer participate in the distribution system for asylum seekers.

Also hotels and hostels on the list
"The situation has worsened," explained Senator for Social Affairs Katja Kipping (Left) to the BZ . "In most other federal states, there is actually an admission freeze for people who apply for asylum for the first time." In addition to Berlin, only Bavaria, Hamburg, Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate are currently participating. As a result, Berlin is expecting around five hundred additional people for July.

Accommodation in the large tent represents the first stage in the Berlin emergency plan. If this is not sufficient, Berlin will switch to the second emergency stage. Then the heavily indebted capital can also rent hostels and hotels to house asylum seekers.

The capital's government, made up of SPD, Greens and Leftists, has repeatedly campaigned for the generous admission of asylum seekers in recent years.

Source: Junge Freiheit