From Hildburg Bruns
In the monumental departure hall there is a cot after a cot. The men who have been camping here for the past few days can now move. 600 asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Georgia, Moldova, Syria and Turkey land in Hangar 1.
The former airport is increasingly becoming a refuge for Tempelhof. 800 Ukrainians have been living in a container village on Columbia Dam for some time. In addition, two hangars (2, 3) were already occupied by 850 asylum seekers at the end of 2022. And now the third – a fourth will soon be equipped for leisure activities.
In the departure hall, where 100 years of Tempelhof was celebrated two weeks ago, there are now 400 camp beds for emergencies Photo: State Office for Refugee Affairs
The pressure is great: 150 living containers were set up in Hangar 1 within eleven days. Each twelve square meter space has space for four double bunk beds, four lockers and a small table with two chairs. “Better than the 2015/16 trade fair standard, but I would get cabin fever here,” says Tempelhof mayor Jörn Oltmann (57, Green).
Between the containers (from left): Mayor Oltmann, Senator Kiziltepe, project manager Woelk Photo: Charles Yunck
Back then there were thin partitions between the beds, it was loud and the lights had to be turned off for everyone at the same time. “Now there is more privacy. The windows of the containers were also frosted so that you couldn’t look inside,” explains project manager Ellen Woelk (45), who also built the arrival center in Tegel in 2022.
A container from the inside: A 12 m² room for four people Photo: Charles Yunck
The refugee situation in Berlin has worsened again. “Last week, 200 people came every day, doubling the number in the previous weeks,” said Social Senator Cansel Kiziltepe (48, SPD). “1071 asylum seekers in one week. This means that even large facilities like Hangar 1 fill up within a few days.”
Tserend Uranchimeg (45) came from Mongolia 20 years ago and then worked in hotels. She has since switched to Workers’ Welfare and distributes bed linen and towels to refugees Photo: Charles Yunck
The prime ministers will soon be negotiating again with the federal government about the distribution of costs. The other large airport or escape port in Tegel, which currently has 4,600 beds, costs 40 million euros every month. The money could be used to build two permanent modular housing units (MUF) in prefabricated construction.
But finding a building site is difficult – land will soon be selected in collaboration with the districts.
Medical care on site and lessons for children have not yet been clarified. The Senator for Education had announced her own welcome classes in separate buildings. Yesterday it was said that the number of school-age children is currently manageable. Classes may also take place in a hangar.
On Friday afternoon, refugees moved into Hangar 1 – all men dpa-Bildfunk +++ Photo: dpa
In any case, the district schools are at their limit. “We have already set up 92 welcome classes – no other district has so many,” says Tempelhof Mayor Oltmann.
1,500 places are rented in hotels and hostels
960 refugees have already been accommodated in six Berlin hotels and hostels. On average for 57 euros gross per place and day.
At the end of September, the Senate decided contractually to rent at least another 1,500 places in hostels and hotels. The following have been newly confirmed so far:
► Albergo Hotel, Hohenzollerndamm (139 places occupied, including 18 children).
► Alecsa, Glockenturmstraße (98/64).
► Centro Park (AE), Buschkrugallee (347/ 102).
► Centro Park, Buschkrugallee (127/31).
► Generator Hostel, Storkower Straße (139).
► Havel Lodge, Friederikenstrasse (110/24).
The Hotel Helle Mitte in Hellersdorf is currently housing 137 unaccompanied minor refugees. All boys with 18 different nationalities. Most often from Afghanistan, Syria, Türkiye, Benin.
The lease was until the end of the year with the possibility of an extension until mid-2024.