Faced with the escalation of the Middle East conflict, questions have arisen about whether German states and municipalities are ready to take in refugees from Iran.
Kay Ruge, chief executive officer of the German District Association, told the “Rheinische Post” on Thursday that there is currently no reliable evidence of a new wave of refugees. However, he cautioned that states and local governments should remain prepared. He noted that accommodation options in Germany have recently been reduced in response to falling refugee numbers and added, “We need to rethink that”.
From a municipal point of view, Ruge stresses that the federal government and the states must also shoulder the costs of keeping housing capacity available for future refugees. These costs cover the maintenance of accommodation facilities, such as rent paid by some municipalities for emergency shelters in warehouses or hotels. He argues that this financing should not burden the municipalities. He concludes by urging that refugees should first receive protection in the regions that border them.