More and more war refugees from the Ukraine are coming to Berlin. On Sunday there were more than 13,000 people. This was announced by the social administration on Monday. The vast majority found accommodation privately or traveled on. 700 people were accommodated by the country. This increased the number of war refugees officially housed in Berlin to 5,700.
Since Sunday, the arriving people have also been distributed to other federal states, as a spokesman for the social administration said. With the exception of Bavaria and Hamburg, everyone took part.
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The onward journey was voluntary, the social administration emphasized in a letter. Nevertheless, helpers at Berlin Central Station should be instructed to guide Ukrainians without a specific destination in Germany to Europaplatz for onward travel.
Deutsche Bahn was also asked to divert trains and special buses to other federal states. “The Ukrainians who are taken to other federal states by bus are mainly accommodated there in arrival centers and reception facilities in order to be registered,” writes the social administration.
Arrival center Reinickendorf at the limit
Although the people are now distributed nationwide and a large number are accommodated privately, the need for beds in Berlin remains high, according to the social administration: “Despite onward travelers and bus transfers to other federal states and private accommodation, there has been a need for accommodation of around 800 to 1000 places per person since March 2nd, 2022 Day.”
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The arrival center in Reinickendorf is already working at the limit. “In order to ensure the registration and distribution of Ukrainian war refugees, an expansion of the registration area of the arrival center is necessary,” writes the social administration.
The police were asked for help with this. The Bundeswehr and aid organizations were also asked for help. In the past few days, a number of tents have been erected on the site where people can wait and get food and drink.
[Alle aktuellen Entwicklungen im Ukraine-Krieg können Sie hier in unserem Newsblog verfolgen.]
In addition, the German Red Cross “offers an initial medical screening, which offers its services from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is supported by volunteer doctors and medical students.”
A second, large-scale arrival center is to be opened this week, like the Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) in conversation with the daily mirror announced.
When asked, a spokesman for the social administration did not say where that would be and how many people could be accommodated there. “Preparations are in full swing, we will announce the opening in good time.”
Giffey and Senator for Social Affairs Katja Kipping (left) had repeatedly asked for help from the federal government. 20 employees of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) are now providing support in the Berlin State Office for Refugee Affairs (LAF).