Refugees from Ukraine
Giffey sees Berlin as a “huge challenge”
03/06/2022, 12:28 p.m
Hundreds of thousands are fleeing the war in Ukraine. Thousands of them come to Germany via Berlin every day. However, the capital cannot do it alone, says Governing Mayor Giffey and calls for a nationwide organization.
According to the Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey, Berlin is reaching its limits in view of the thousands of Ukraine refugees arriving in the capital every day. “We have an extremely dynamic event within a week: In the beginning there were 45 people who we accommodated, now over 10,000 come a day, and that is a huge challenge that we are trying to overcome with various means,” said the SPD -Politician on ZDF.
On the one hand, arrival centers, refugee accommodation, hostels and youth hostels are used, on the other hand there is a great deal of private commitment. “It’s only possible together at the moment. We’re increasingly reaching our limits,” said Giffey. Because most people from Ukraine arrive in Berlin, there is now an urgent need for a nationwide organization and distribution of the refugees, Giffey demanded, “because we can’t do it on this scale with the existing structures here in Berlin alone”.
On Thursday, the EU decided on the residence status of war refugees from Ukraine. This is also linked to labor law, said Giffey. “This urgently needs to be implemented in federal law this week so that the people who come here are not only distributed, housed and given first aid, but it is also clear that they have a protected perspective to stay for a certain period of time – and they have the right to work,” Giffey demanded.