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Help at Berlin Central Station: »Without the volunteers, it takes one to two hours, then there is anarchy at the station because the rush is so great«
Photo: IMAGO/stefan zeitz / IMAGO/Stefan Zeitz
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Ghantus, how is the situation at Berlin Central Station?
Ghantus:
The train station is basically straight like the border with Ukraine.
Crying children, women, old men come, some with injuries, some with their cats, hamsters or dogs.
On Tuesday, the trains were busier than ever, with many hundreds of people per train.
I've never seen the train station so crowded, it just didn't stop.
SPIEGEL:
Most recently, more than 10,000 Ukrainians arrived in Berlin every day.
Who is helping the local people?
Ghantus:
We are a group of people who went to the platform on Sunday a week ago to see if anyone needed help.
We saw that people need food and water.
A Telegram group was set up, we called on the population to help.
It is an organized group of volunteers, there is no organization or association.
Many who are active in the group have put their lives on hold to help.
I joined it myself last Tuesday.
SPIEGEL:
What exactly are you doing there?
Ghantus:
We accompany the people who arrive at the main station down to the area where we can feed them.
We now cook and distribute cold and hot food for thousands of people every day, we have a nursing tent, hygiene items, a clothing collection, a bed exchange, a children's play area.
We are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
SPIEGEL:
Even at night?
Ghantus:
Yes, ghost trains keep arriving that nobody knew about, or people come from the central bus station to the main train station and need help or a place to sleep.
That's why we're here 24/7.
SPIEGEL:
How many helpers are there?
Ghantus:
There are around 20 to 30 of those who structure, plan and coordinate. And then of course there are also those who translate, carry bags, serve food, hand out SIM cards or clothes – everything that is needed at the moment.
And the number is - I don't know, it's going to be in the thousands.
Every day people come who are new, but I also recognize some.
People from social professions get involved with us, but also plumbers;
I know of a psychotherapist, an ex-soldier, a baker, many musicians.
There are many from the event industry – like me.
I'm a freelance sound engineer - it's a pandemic, so I can't work anyway.
SPIEGEL:
What is your role on site?
Ghantus:
I'm part of the core group, I take care of the logistics and the distribution of the volunteers and I'm the contact person for Deutsche Bahn, Telekom and pretty much everyone.
MIRROR:
How often and how long do you work?
Ghantus:
My shifts are 12 to 16 hours, but I try not to do more than 10 to 12 to be able to help.
That's what we say to everyone: You can't help if you're not fit - you have to eat, sleep, take breaks.
SPIEGEL:
How are you?
Ghantus:
I take care of myself, I try to get enough sleep.
But I also see people burning out.
Helpers also cry here again and again.
It's just amazing when you're not used to seeing so much suffering.
There are some in the core team who say: I'll still be there tomorrow, but then I won't be able to do it anymore.
MIRROR:
What problems do you have?
Ghantus:
For example the thing with the toilets.
You have to pay for them, the railways gave us sacks of coins that we distributed to the people.
After two hours, 500 coins were gone, but then they said we weren't allowed to give the coins away.
So the coins were then given out by the train at the very bottom of the station - people had to come down from the top where the trains arrive, get their coin, and then have to come back up to pee.
The train did that for two days.
Now the toilets are just open.
The web cares and it's clean, but it's an example of the apparatus trying to establish normalcy in a situation that's not normal at all.
SPIEGEL:
The city has now erected a tent at the train station where the refugees are supposed to arrive.
Ghantus:
Yes, it's good that it's there.
But I'm afraid that won't be enough.
Without the volunteers it takes one to two hours, and then there is anarchy at the station because there is so much traffic.
We all look forward to going home.
But we will stay until the city can take care of the people.
