In Frankfurt, a homeless man may have frozen to death. The city appeals to the citizens. They should watch out for people in the cold.
Frankfurt / Main (dpa / lhe) - A homeless man may have frozen to death in Frankfurt. The 46-year-old died on Wednesday night and was found by an employee of a social welfare organization in a supermarket parking lot in the Gallus district, the police said. "He may have died due to the cold temperatures, and an autopsy should now clarify the exact cause of death," said a spokesman on Thursday. According to the information, the man had regularly stayed in the parking lot and stayed there overnight. Head of social affairs Elke Voitl (Greens) appealed to citizens to pay attention to people who are outside in freezing temperatures.
"Anyone who sees a person sleeping in a hidden corner or poorly equipped outdoors during the day should definitely call for help," says Voitl, according to the announcement. There are also the telephone numbers of the Frankfurt cold bus, the hotline for social emergencies or, in emergencies, the emergency number 112, said a spokeswoman.
During the cold season, social workers are increasingly on the streets to bring homeless people to shelters, a spokeswoman said when asked whether the incident required additional efforts. Nevertheless, there are people who would choose to stay on the street.
According to the information, the deceased man had been homeless for a long time. He was disabled and difficult to reach for help, it said. It is now necessary to reconstruct the circumstances of his death.
There are various relief campaigns for the homeless in Frankfurt: One easily accessible offer is emergency accommodation in the Eschenheimer Tor underground station, where around 150 sleeping places, i.e. sleeping mats and blankets, as well as a small breakfast are provided. There is also accommodation in the city in dormitories and hotels. Furthermore, the cold bus is on the road in the city area to supply people.
The Federal Working Group for Homeless Aid called for more protection in the cold for the homeless on Thursday. According to this, various respiratory diseases, including Corona, are a danger for homeless people nationwide. In addition, the already high number of people seeking help and the additional need for refugees from Ukraine pose special challenges for the municipalities, it said.
