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"On the ground of facts": How a Starnberg resident sees the situation of the refugees

2022-06-21T09:11:18.727Z


"On the ground of facts": How a Starnberg resident sees the situation of the refugees Created: 06/21/2022, 11:05 am By: Peter Schiebel Sign of solidarity: The flag of Ukraine is still flying in front of the district office in Starnberg - and has been for almost four months. © District Office Starnberg City council officer for social affairs, integration, inclusion, equality and senior citizens


"On the ground of facts": How a Starnberg resident sees the situation of the refugees

Created: 06/21/2022, 11:05 am

By: Peter Schiebel

Sign of solidarity: The flag of Ukraine is still flying in front of the district office in Starnberg - and has been for almost four months.

© District Office Starnberg

City council officer for social affairs, integration, inclusion, equality and senior citizens, Kerstin Täubner-Benicke, in an interview with Starnberger Merkur about the current situation of refugees in the district.

Starnberg - Donations of money and goods, privately organized aid transports, housing offers - the wave of willingness to help in the district of Starnberg for people from the Ukraine was great after Russia invaded the country on February 24th.

How is the situation now, almost four months later?

The Starnberger Merkur spoke to Kerstin Täubner-Benicke about it.

The 54-year-old from Starnberg is not only the city council officer for social affairs, integration, inclusion, equality and senior citizens, but also coordinates the "Starnberg helps" network.

There are similar initiatives in other communities in the district.

Ms Täubner-Benicke, how would you describe the current mood among the refugees from Ukraine and the people who support them?

We've all come down to earth.

In the beginning there were bureaucratic obstacles, for example regarding registration.

A lot of things have now been resolved.

But some administrative procedures are still tough.

Some people from Ukraine have waited three months to get their fictional certificate, which is required for the right of residence.

The urgent problems now are the accommodation of the people and the issue of kindergarten places.

The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, recently criticized the fact that many Ukrainian refugees do not feel comfortable in Germany.

Have you also made such observations?

no

I have experienced gratitude and disbelief that there are so many people helping strangers.

Kerstin Täubner-Benicke coordinates the "Starnberg helps" network.

© private

However, the district office has also heard that some hosts have now withdrawn their offers of accommodation, whether due to overcrowding or other reasons.

There is everything.

For example, owners who prefer to leave their house empty because they want to sell it.

So there is still living space that could be activated.

However, I am also aware of cases of people who have taken in guests from the Ukraine but would now like to have the rooms free again.

And there are people for whom the Ukrainians have become new family members.

It's the whole range.

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The "Starnberg helps" initiative offers, among other things, play groups, meetings to get to know each other and parent-child groups.

Of course, there are similar offers in other district municipalities.

How well are these offers accepted?

Generally good.

Our playgroup, for example, started on June 8th and has ten places, seven of which are currently occupied.

They are all kindergarten children between the ages of three and five and a half who are looked after by a Ukrainian psychologist.

But there are bureaucratic hurdles here too.

We offer three hours on three days so that we stay under the ten hours that would be required for a childcare group for which recognized specialists are required in Germany.

But we are very grateful that the mayor and the city administration support the project.

The focus is on Ukraine and its people, while other crisis and war zones have slipped out of the public eye.

Can you understand when refugees, for example from Syria or Afghanistan, some of whom have been living with us for years, feel neglected?

I can definitely understand that.

Many helpers feel the same way.

There is a certain uncertainty there.

What must be done so that there is no conflict?

There should be easier work and easier access to integration courses.

There is, of course, great potential for conflict on the housing market, which is already very difficult in our region.

What challenges do you see the district facing in the coming weeks and months in terms of dealing with the refugees?

Nobody knows how the situation will develop and when people will be able to return to their homes, which many Ukrainians want.

Therefore: work, language, housing are the most important things.

To continue to have the feeling that you are welcome, but also to contribute and develop independence.

After the so-called refugee crisis of 2015/16, after initial euphoria, many volunteers complained about bureaucratic hurdles, became increasingly burned out and gave up.

How do you intend to prevent such a development now?

We regularly organize round tables every four weeks to exchange ideas and we try to distribute the tasks better.

For example, it is enough if you sponsor a family, it does not have to be three families.

Yesterday was World Refugee Day.

What is the meaning of this day?

Every refugee is a person with their own story and not just a case or an anonymous number.

Behind every name hides a destiny.

Each person has had parents, relatives and friends whom they have had to leave.

Hussain from Afghanistan and Anastasiia from Ukraine share the same fate, namely that they had to leave their homeland.

Both hope to see family members again and have a happy life.

The great willingness to help people from Ukraine and from elsewhere is a strong sign of charity.

This applies to the state-organized help as well as to voluntary work.

Thanks and recognition go to these volunteers, without them many things, including in the Starnberg district, would not work.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-06-21

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