Berlin Struggles with Influx of Asylum Seekers as Space Runs Out
BERLIN (AP) — The former mental health hospital in Berlin’s Reinickendorf neighborhood has become the city’s registration center for asylum-seekers. However, with the surge in applications for asylum in Germany’s capital, the facility is now at its full capacity, leaving authorities scrambling to find additional space.
Dozens of people from around the world, including Moldova, Somalia, Pakistan, and Vietnam, were seen lining up outside the former mental health hospital in Berlin this week. These individuals are among the over 10,000 migrants who have applied for asylum in Berlin this year, far surpassing expectations and placing a strain on the city’s resources.
Sascha Langenbach, the spokesperson for the state office for refugee affairs in Berlin, expressed concern over the situation, stating, “The situation is not very good at the moment. This is much more than we expected last year.”
To address the issue, Berlin’s state government plans to convert a hangar at the former Tempelhof airport into a migrant shelter, set up a large tent at the asylum seekers’ registration center, and utilize an empty hardware store, hotels, and hostels throughout the city to accommodate another 5,500 beds for incoming migrants.
However, the lack of space is not limited to housing alone. Berlin is also facing a shortage of places in kindergartens and schools. In addition to asylum seekers, the city has taken in 11,000 Ukrainian refugees this year who fled from the ongoing war with Russia.
Unfortunately, Berlin is not the only city grappling with this issue. Germany as a whole is struggling to provide adequate space and funding for migrants and refugees. Local and state officials have repeatedly called on the federal government to provide more resources, but their demands have not been met.
Between January and August of this year, Germany received over 220,000 applications for asylum, with the majority coming from Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey, Moldova, and Georgia. To put this into perspective, in 2022 alone, more than 1 million Ukrainians sought refuge in Germany due to the war. Unlike other migrants, Ukrainians are granted immediate residency status in Germany and other European Union countries.
The welcoming sentiment toward migrants that Germany experienced in 2015-2016 has significantly shifted. The rising popularity of the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD), which advocates for stricter immigration policies, has influenced the national and state governments to adopt a tougher stance on migration.
In response to the changing public sentiment, Germany’s interior minister recently announced increased border controls with Poland and the Czech Republic to prevent irregular migrants from entering the country. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also defended plans to halt migrants’ entry into the European Union until their asylum claims have been reviewed.
Despite the challenges and the evolving attitudes toward migrants in Germany, those who are able to successfully apply for asylum are grateful for the opportunity. Abdullah al-Shweiti from Syria expressed relief at being in a safe place after fleeing a war-torn home, paying smugglers to help him reach Germany. Similarly, Mirbeycan Gurhan, a Kurdish man from Turkey, escaped oppression and hopes for a better future in Germany.
Michael Elias, head of the Tamaja company that manages the asylum registration center in Berlin, emphasized the need for preparedness as global crises continue to drive people to seek refuge. He stated, “We must simply anticipate that we’re not an island of the fortunate here, that things will reach us too.”
Germany, like many other countries, faces the ongoing challenge of balancing the humanitarian obligation to assist those in need with limited resources and public sentiment. As the number of asylum seekers continues to rise globally, governments and communities must work together to find sustainable solutions.