Several deaths in the refugee accommodation in Tempelhof

There were also two suicide attempts this year. The “Tagesspiegel” first reported on it. In the emergency shelter on the former airport site there is a group of 50 to 60 people who have problems, particularly with the consumption of alcohol, said the spokesman. These are usually older people with a “longer history” of alcohol abuse.

The Senator for Labor, Social Affairs and Integration, Cansel Kiziltepe (SPD), assured dpa in response to a request: “All incidents are documented, every incident is consistently dealt with.” This is the only way to take action against grievances.

“We know that emergency accommodation like the ones in the Tempelhof hangars are not good conditions for the integration of refugees,” admitted Kiziltepe. “Because we cannot currently close the facility, we have implemented a number of improvements as far as possible to make life easier for the people there.”

On the one hand, more employees who speak Russian and Ukrainian have been hired. “There is outreach counseling for people who drink a lot of alcohol.” There are now more psychologists and psychotherapists trained in Ukraine on duty, particularly to support people with trauma. “Only a maximum of three people live in the containers, not four like before.”

Alcohol is often involved in arguments

According to the spokesman, around 1,050 people are currently accommodated in containers in the hangars and in front of them. In addition to this emergency shelter, there are also residential container complexes called Tempohomes with around 775 other refugees.

There has been repeated criticism of the situation for refugees on the airport grounds in the past, among other things because of the cramped conditions. Arguments and frustration regularly escalate there.

On average, clashes occur once a month, said the LAF spokesman. “These are the cases that are so serious that they are reported directly to the LAF, such as the use of a knife.”

“When arguments arise, alcohol is often involved,” the spokesman continued. “We’re talking about hard alcohol here. That’s really a challenge for the people who work there.” Alcohol consumption is not permitted on site – but cannot be controlled outside the property.