“Federation rejects forecast”
NRW fears significantly more refugees from the Middle East
April 13, 2024, 2:32 a.m
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It was only after pressure from the federal states that the traffic light decided to introduce a payment card for refugees after a heated argument. The Düsseldorf state government accuses the federal government of continued ignorance. The number of asylum seekers from the Middle East is expected to rise massively, but the federal government refuses to make a forecast.
NRW is preparing for an increase in the number of refugees as a result of the Middle East conflict. The minister responsible for federal affairs, Nathanael Liminski, told the “Rheinische Post” that “the concerns about a renewed increase are realistic and were articulated by the states months ago in the negotiations on the subject of migration with the federal government. The number of refugees to us will rise massively again.” The CDU politician did not mention an order of magnitude, but referred to the federal government. Liminski criticized the federal government for refusing to make a forecast. The Palestinians, who are acutely threatened by war, cannot currently leave the Gaza Strip.
The CDU politician warned that cities and municipalities were at their limit when it came to migration. “The challenge on site is already huge in terms of accommodation and care – and I’m not even talking about care, schooling and integration. The federal government doesn’t seem to understand that its political trivialization is a real slap in the face to those in charge and refugee helpers the municipalities.” North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst has been warning in vain for years that the federal government should not wait for the cities and municipalities to report overload.
“Payment card takes pull factor out of the system”
The “breathing system for refugee financing” enforced by the states is not enough for NRW: “The current system is very shallow, provides for too low sums and urgently needs to be improved.” Liminski welcomed the fact that the Bundestag had decided on the payment card, even if the states’ urgent request for it had been fulfilled far too late. “Making it difficult to transfer foreign currency back to home countries takes a real pull factor out of the system.”
After a long internal coalition dispute, the Bundestag passed a legal basis for a payment card for refugees. The federal states in particular had pushed for the regulation. Asylum seekers can use the payment card to pay for everyday goods and services such as groceries. The ability to withdraw cash will be restricted; Transfers abroad should also no longer be possible.