The Relocation of Populations - Decrease in Asylum Applicants in Rhineland-Palatinate
The number of refugees in Rhineland-Palatinate has dropped significantly. There are now approximately 4,000 individuals housed in the state's reception centers, with an occupancy rate of roughly 61%. Last autumn, the facilities for asylum seekers were often filled beyond capacity, accommodating over 7,000 people.
As a result, the centers aren't as crammed as they once were. Extra spaces like thermal and sports halls no longer need to be utilized. However, the total number of spots has decreased, with the AfA in Bitburg being temporarily shut down for fire safety concerns in mid-May. Additionally, there are reduced spaces available in the facility in Trier, following a container fire in April.
Operational facilities are available in Trier, Speyer, Kusel, and Hermeskeil. An airport estate in Hahn and a hotel in Bitburg serve as satellite centers. The intention is to eventually reopen the shuttered AfA in Bitburg for living quarters. "At this point, it's unclear when and under what circumstances this will be possible," the ADD noted.
If more people arrive, emergency accommodations like thermal or sports halls can be readily activated. The aim for the year is to maintain the stability of overall accommodations across the state. Suitable properties are being examined for this purpose, although no clear results have been obtained thus far.
During most of the previous year, fewer individuals were assigned to the municipalities compared to the state's total intake. This allowed municipalities to expand their capacity gradually. Even now, the state isn't meeting its agreed-upon allocation targets for the municipalities, which are set at 250 people per week.
In the first five months of this year, Rhineland-Palatinate received around 3,800 asylum seekers. In the previous financial year, that figure was roughly 4,700 people - a difference of nearly 900. In the fall, some AfAs in the state were operating at full capacity due to high occupancy rates.
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The temporary closure of the AfA in Bitburg is due to fire safety concerns, as reported by the German Press Agency. The decrease in asylum seekers in Rhineland-Palatinate has led to reduced occupancy rates in reception centers, including the one in Trier, which was affected by a container fire last April. Despite the decrease, Rhineland-Palatinate still hasn't met its agreed-upon allocation targets for asylum seekers in its municipalities.
