Arrivals center operational at former airport

Created: 2022-03-20Updated: 2022-03-20 7:51 PM

Franziska Giffey (SPD), Governing Mayor of Berlin, speaks at a press conference.

© Christophe Gateau/dpa

Every day, thousands of refugees from Ukraine get off trains and buses in Berlin.

And nobody knows how many more are to come.

When admitting people, the Senate relies on the solidarity of the federal and state governments.

And to a new arrival center.

Berlin - The state of Berlin wants to register war refugees from Ukraine faster in the future, accommodate them in the city and distribute them to other federal states.

An arrival center on the site of the closed Tegel Airport started regular operations on Sunday.

Such a registration office is quite unique in this form and size, said Berlin's Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) on the former airport site.

All refugees arriving in Berlin are to be registered in the arrival center - according to the Senate, there is a capacity for up to 10,000 people arriving daily.

Since the Russian attack on Ukraine more than three weeks ago, Berlin has been the port of call for many refugees who have escaped to Germany.

From the arrival center in Tegel, many people should travel on to other federal states after a short stay.

According to the first provisional figures, the state of Berlin has so far spent around 26 million euros on the reception, care and distribution of refugees from Ukraine.

"That's not all," said Giffey, who called the total on Sunday.

Social benefits for the refugees are not included in the 26 million euros.

Giffey again demanded that the federal government bear part of the cost.

By April 7 - the next Prime Ministers' Conference (MPK) - there must be an agreement on financing.

At the MPK on Thursday, the federal and state governments had agreed to approach the admission of war refugees as a joint task and to set the course for rapid integration.

The MPK resolution formulates the goal of achieving a "speedy and performance-based" distribution of the refugees and "absorbing and cushioning" existing overloads in individual countries.

In the TXL arrival center - which is also the abbreviation for Tegel Airport - registration takes place at 120 counters.

According to the social administration, aid organizations are providing around 200 people to look after and accompany the refugees.

Bundeswehr soldiers have also been deployed for a few days.

According to the Senate, this support is approved until March 31.

The State Office for Refugee Affairs hopes, however, that the help of the Bundeswehr will be extended.

From Monday, employees of the state administration should also help in the arrival center, as Giffey announced.

more on the subject

Emergency overnight stays for refugees: Giffey calls for help

New arrival center for refugees at Tegel Airport

Senate sets up crisis team for refugees from Ukraine

The head of government also spoke of a certain need for follow-up adjustments: For example, the further distribution of the refugees with coaches must fit even better with the reported free accommodation.

"But you have to say, even if things are still jerking off and we're still in the process of finding things here, a great deal has already been achieved and the test run went well," said Giffey.

She had recently repeatedly emphasized that the capital could not handle the reception and distribution of the refugees on its own.

Social Senator Katja Kipping (left) explained that 30 to 40 percent of those arriving were children.

She spoke of the “beginning of a mammoth task”.

The next major task is integration and access to schools, day care centers and the job market.

Giffey said she would like the refugee arrival center to have job counseling in the future.

dpa