Russia’s war in Ukraine is driving hundreds of thousands from their homes. In Germany, helpers have been receiving the refugees for a few days.
Berlin – Around 1,300 refugees from Ukraine arrived at Berlin Central Station on several trains. The trains came from Poland, said a spokesman for the fire brigade.
The rbb had reported that there were special trains. When asked, a railway spokesman for dpa said that these were regular connections. Helpers provided the people at the station with food and drink.
Ukrainian refugees had already arrived in the capital on regular trains during the day. According to Deutsche Bahn, no further long-distance trains from Poland are expected on Wednesday night.
Since Sunday, Deutsche Bahn has made it possible for refugees with a Ukrainian passport or identity card to use all long-distance trains from Poland to Germany free of charge. As reported by Deutsche Bahn, up to eight Eurocity long-distance trains run from Poland to Germany every day – all via the Frankfurt/Oder border crossing.
Refugees welcome
After a meeting of the interior ministers of the federal and state governments, there are signs of a great willingness to accept war refugees from the Ukraine in Germany. Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) told the “Rheinische Post”: “I’m confident that we can also accommodate a larger number of Ukrainian refugees.” Brandenburg’s Interior Minister Michael Stübgen (CDU) told the newspaper: “The admission of the Ukraine refugees must now be regulated quickly and easily.” This requires clarity with regard to the residence status and the assumption of costs by the federal government.
“Thuringia, like all other federal states, will act in solidarity and take in refugees from Ukraine,” Thuringia’s Interior Minister Georg Maier (SPD) told the German Press Agency.
The deliberations of the interior ministers also served to prepare a meeting of the EU interior ministers this Thursday. The aim of the meeting is to discuss how many refugees from Ukraine each member state can take in. It will also be about what status the refugees should have. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) had spoken out in favor of enacting an EU directive in the event of a “mass influx” of displaced persons. Specifically, displaced persons could be granted immediate temporary protection without lengthy asylum procedures.
No border controls at internal EU borders
“We can’t say anything about the expected numbers in Germany at the moment,” said Faeser Tuesday night on the program “Markus Lanz”, when asked how many Ukrainians will probably seek refuge in this country. So far, around 5,000 war refugees from Ukraine have been registered in Germany. Many Ukrainians are staying with relatives and friends. “Of course we will take in those who come to Germany.”
Since there are no border controls at the internal EU borders, the number of refugees who have entered Germany can actually be significantly higher. Most refugees from Ukraine are currently in Poland and other neighboring countries.
The chairman of the German police union, Rainer Wendt, told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” that accommodation for Ukrainian war refugees had to be extensively protected. He said: “In Germany we learned with great pain that the Russian secret services do not shy away from practicing their murderous craft on German soil.” dpa
