Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - Despite increasing problems in the municipalities with the accommodation of Ukrainian war refugees, all those seeking protection in North Rhine-Westphalia should continue to be supported. "One thing is and remains clear: Anyone fleeing Putin's war is very welcome in North Rhine-Westphalia," said Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) on Friday in the Düsseldorf state parliament.

So far, almost a quarter of a million people have fled to North Rhine-Westphalia before the Russian war of aggression, mainly women and children. "The number of refugees has long since reached the level of 2015," said Wüst. If the cold and wet penetrated the bombed-out Ukrainian apartments in the next few months, more people would come - "have to come," added the CDU politician. "Their decent accommodation and care is one of the major tasks in autumn and winter for municipalities and states."