The lack of capacity to take in refugees in Thuringia has been discussed for weeks. The state now wants to open objects in Hermsdorf and Erfurt. But that's not enough, says Migration Minister Dirk Adams (Greens).
Erfurt (dpa/th) - In response to the large number of refugees arriving, the Thuringian Ministry of Migration is planning an additional large branch of the state's initial reception facility. The goal is an "apartment-like facility like in Suhl," said Migration Minister Dirk Adams (Greens) of the German Press Agency. "I want to search and find something like that." Overall, the country wants to reserve up to around 2,500 places in the initial refugee reception itself - in addition to those of the municipalities. So far there are about 1400 places in Suhl. There had been riots in the fully occupied facility in the past few days.
Suhl branches in Hermsdorf and Erfurt are already planned. According to Adams, however, these two projects are "more of an emergency shelter."
According to the minister, it is still unclear how large the additional branch office still to be found must be. The capacity calculations will include Hermsdorf with around 700 and Erfurt with around 400 places, he said. With that, a total of around 2,500 initial reception places would be reached - however, 1,100 places are in large halls and therefore more of transitional quarters. People couldn't live there for long periods of time, Adams said. That should be different in the sought-after initial reception facility.
The state's initial reception center in Suhl has been overcrowded for weeks. Most recently, more than 1,500 people were housed there. According to Suhl's Lord Mayor André Knapp (CDU), this means, among other things, that the residents of the facility regularly have to queue for an hour and a half to eat. This also contributes to the emergence of conflicts.
Men, women and children should only spend a short time in the refugee reception before they are distributed to accommodation in the municipalities. Because there are now only a few properties in the rural districts and urban districts in which those seeking protection can stay, some of them have to spend a longer time in the initial reception.
With a view to the costs that the municipalities incur as a result of housing refugees from Ukraine, Adams promised the counties and independent cities further support in the millions for 2023. Municipalities could expect to receive a mid-double-digit million amount next year to help cover those costs, he said. "That has been agreed in the cabinet of the state government."
Most recently, Thuringia passed on 49.5 million euros from federal funds to the municipalities of the Free State, which are intended to pay the accommodation costs for Ukrainian refugees this year. Adams said those payments for the year ending would be supplemented by approximately another $16 million in the spring of 2023.
