"From zero to one hundred": Ukraine refugee aid becomes a full-time job - authorities are overwhelmed

Created: 3/31/2022Updated: 3/31/2022 10:32 p.m

By: Klaus Greif

Peter Busch works eight hours a day to help refugees.

Even on weekends.

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Peter Busch is active in the Caritas helper group and takes care of the refugees in the shelter on Industriestrasse in Germering.

With the Ukraine war come new challenges.

Germering – The 68-year-old has experienced a lot in his job.

However, the refugees from the Ukraine who have been coming to Germering for weeks now present him with unexpected challenges.

"I now have a full-time job.

Eight hours a day, including weekends.

My wife has to take care that it doesn't get too much," says the retired engineer in the living room at home.

When talking to him, it becomes a little clear what he means: his cell phone keeps ringing.

At the other end are either employees of the immigration office of the district office who answer his inquiries or other helpers who need his advice.

Ukraine refugees in Bavaria: authorities overwhelmed - volunteer helper reports

What distinguishes the current situation from the refugee crisis that began in 2015 is the speed from the volunteer helper's point of view: "It went from zero to one hundred." That also overwhelmed the authorities.

For him, it means that within a few days he has to look after 19 people from Ukraine in addition to the refugees on Industriestrasse.

In the meantime, they have all either found accommodations with Germeringer private individuals or have been given a place in apartments in the city.

The fact that they still need help and that he and his wife and other helpers usually provide this help is partly due to the bureaucratic requirements.

This begins with the so-called self-registration, which the district office requires.

The forms are only available in German and on the Internet - but filling them out online poses problems for even helpful Germeringer, says Peter Busch.

Not to mention the refugees themselves.

You can read all further information on the Ukraine war and its effects in Bavaria here on our Ukraine refugees topic page.

According to Busch, the necessary registration with the city was less bureaucratic: “The administration made it possible to register collectively outside of office hours in the town hall.” The next requirement was also met relatively quickly: In order to enable payments to the refugees, the district office requires every family to open an account.

The savings bank made this possible in an unbureaucratic manner, Busch explains.

Ukraine war: Refugees need help from the authorities - "It's already a huge burden"

A valid Ukrainian passport is sufficient.

But of course the refugees cannot do this alone – at least one helper is always needed.

And most of the time, it's Peter Busch that everyone turns to because he's known for his effectiveness.

The helper admits: "It's a huge burden for me."

(By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular FFB newsletter.)

From the point of view of the helpers, one of the most work in fulfilling the bureaucratic requirements is the so-called application for a residence permit: “These are six pages that have to be filled out for all family members.

Also for small children.” The biggest problem is that you cannot fill out these forms online, which would make the work much easier.

So everything has to be done manually.

He sat at the table with his wife all evening to get it done.

Refugees in Bavaria: "Ukraine war may have awakened helper syndrome"

In addition to the bureaucratic help, there are still very practical requirements that are increasingly left to the honorary helpers.

The living quarters in a house provided by the city were only minimally furnished.

The helpers would have taken care of additional furniture themselves.

Young refugees from the accommodation on Industriestraße, among others, actively helped with the transport.

Despite all the individual criticism, Peter Busch also expresses a lot of understanding for the employees in the district office: “Of course, they always have to fulfill all the formalities.

In addition, they are reaching their limits in terms of personnel.” Corona would also have made refugee aid on site more difficult: Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been no full-time care by Caritas on Industriestraße.

The circle of helpers themselves has also shrunk in number.

Peter and Irene Busch are therefore hoping for additional volunteers to get involved.

The chances are not that bad: since the beginning of the crisis, two Germeringer have already contacted us.

Peter Busch: "The war in Ukraine may have awakened the helper syndrome."

You can find more current news from the district of Fürstenfeldbruck at Merkur.de/Fürstenfeldbruck.