In light of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Berlin social senator Katja Kipping estimates the largest refugee influx in Europe since World War II. “What we’ve experienced so far is just the tip of the iceberg,” Kipping told Deutschlandfunk radio, Friday (4/4/2022). About 6,500 people came to Berlin by direct train on Thursday alone, but only a few new arrivals were registered by authorities.

“Europe is facing its biggest refugee influx since the end of World War II,” Kipping said. As he explained, Berlin only registers those whose accommodation or transfer to another German Länder is taken care of by the Berlin Land authorities. It is estimated to receive a third of the refugees who enter, while the rest find accommodation independently of the authorities.

20,000 places in Berlin

Most refugees from Ukraine traveling to Germany arrive in Berlin first at the main station. The German capital for them is “the gateway to Europe,” says Katja Kipping. To begin with, Berlin will provide them with 20,000 seats. It would not have been possible without the “tremendous commitment of the volunteers,” said the senator. However, he added that Berlin’s administration was not overloaded, although journalists pointed out that the city did not give the impression that it was ready for the arrival of thousands of Ukrainians in a single day.

Volunteers at the train station in Berlin

According to radio station RBB, Kipping plans to set up a tent for 1,000 people in front of the main train station, equipped with seating and sanitary facilities. In this way, people arriving from Ukraine will have the opportunity to rest before their onward journey, or they will be transported by bus to their accommodation in Berlin.

Katja Kipping said that so far it was possible to provide accommodation and food for everyone, but the next task would be to find places in schools and kindergartens. European Union countries agreed on Thursday to provide temporary protection and residence permits to refugees from Ukraine. They can also get a work permit.

About 1.25 million people, mainly women and children, have fled the country since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the International Organization for Migration reports. Most came to Poland – 672 thousand. About 194 thousand went to Moldova, and to Hungary – 133 thousand. Among the refugees there are about 78,800 people who are not from Ukraine, only 138 other countries.

Germany in solidarity

It is not known how many war refugees will come to Germany. According to official figures, from the start of the war on February 24 to Thursday, March 3, about 10,000 people were from Ukraine, of which 7,500 had Ukrainian citizenship. However, this number – in reserve of the German office – is certainly higher, since border controls are carried out only randomly.

Berlin Main Station: mostly mothers with children

Germany’s federal states and municipalities prepared to welcome thousands of people. According to Caritas Germany, the Ukrainian side is very willing to help. “The solidarity and readiness to help is enormous,” Caritas president Eva Maria Welskop-Deffaa told the Passauer Neue Presse daily. “It’s amazing how many private individuals from all over Germany came forward and offered to welcome people.” However, it’s hard to get a national picture of accommodation options because it’s a municipal or federal state issue, the Caritas chief said. Organizations like Malteser and Caritas have the experience to quickly set up shelters.

According to the head of Caritas Germany, few of the new arrivals decide to start a new life in Germany or elsewhere. Currently, their main goal is to ensure the safety of themselves and their children. However, according to Welskop-Deffaa, the question arises how to accommodate refugees from Ukraine in the long term. “There’s a shortage of affordable housing in Germany – this is what foreign refugees and low-income families suffer the most,” he said.

As reported by the RND editorial network, there are currently about 25,000 vacancies in reception centers in Germany, the most (3,800) in the most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Most Länders are working on creating additional sites.

(DPA, EPD, AFP/house)