Tegel: 1,400 jobs in refugee accommodation will be lost – what now?

Tegel: 1,400 jobs in refugee accommodation will be lost – what now?

The refugee accommodation on the site of the former Tegel Airport in Berlin is facing fundamental changes. Around 1,400 employees, including many from DRK Social Work Berlin and other aid organizations will lose their jobs at the end of the year as their contracts expire and are unlikely to be renewed. This information was recently announced by rbb24. Employees were informed at an early stage that their employment relationships would change.

Although the number of employees is falling, the Berlin Senate has decided to continue using the site to accommodate refugees. Parts of it will serve as a central arrival center for asylum seekers until the end of May 2031. Tegel was originally designed as an arrival center in 2022 to primarily accommodate refugees from Ukraine, who were initially only supposed to be accommodated there for a short period of time.

Capacity and decline in accommodation

The new plan provides for a reduced capacity of 2,600 places, whereas previously significantly more people were accommodated. Since 2022, around 120,000 war refugees from Ukraine and other countries have been received and cared for in Tegel, reports the DRK. However, the need for support is changing as the number of refugees accommodated is currently falling, as the figures show: there are currently around 6,500 places available, of which around 2,700 are occupied by Ukrainians and around 1,000 by refugees from other countries of origin.

Berlin aid organizations, including the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund and Malteser, are adapting their offerings to the current circumstances. They support refugees with general care, leisure and advisory services, and medical care. With hardly any places left and increased demand, job and integration fairs held in Tegel are becoming increasingly important. In recent months, such an event has attracted around 800 visitors.

Medical care and social services

In practice, the aid organizations in Tegel have a lot to do: last year, more than 57,200 medical consultations were carried out in the care center, with a variety of initial care services. The staff, who can communicate in a total of 26 languages, offer not only medical help but also psychological support. This is particularly important because around 18,000 consultations were held in the last six months.

Thanks to extensive logistics provided by the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund and the support of the Malteser, the needs of the emergency accommodation facility are coordinated efficiently. Excursions, leisure activities and music school offerings are on the program to offer refugees a perspective.

The situation of refugees in Germany remains tense. The discussions about asylum law have changed significantly since the founding of the Federal Republic. According to bpb, Germany is now one of the main receiving countries for refugees in the world. The reforms of the asylum procedures attempt to ensure an orderly process, even if many changes led to a noticeable tightening of asylum law.

Overall, it is clear that the challenges on the way to integrating refugees are still present. Nevertheless, the commitment of the employees in institutions like Tegel remains tireless. A good knack for dealing with these complex issues is required, both from aid organizations and from politicians.