First people move into emergency accommodation in Bad Sachsa
The first people are moving into a new emergency shelter in Bad Sachsa this week. Initially, 50 particularly vulnerable people are to be accommodated in the former spa clinic in the Harz Mountains, as announced by the Lower Saxony state reception authority on Wednesday. The first arrivals are planned for Thursday.
More refugees are to arrive gradually. According to the information, a maximum of 200 people are allowed to live in the emergency accommodation. For example, women traveling alone, mothers with children or people with disabilities are considered particularly vulnerable. The accommodation is partially barrier-free.
Parallel to the opening of the emergency accommodation, the approval process is still underway to use the location as a regular initial reception center in the future, the state reception authority announced. Up to 400 people will then be able to live there.
Initially, there was criticism of the new refugee accommodation from local politicians and residents. Mayor Daniel Quade (FDP), for example, said that the facility was designed too large for the small town in the Harz region and that there was a risk of the authorities being overloaded. At the end of 2021, 8,115 people were resident in Bad Sachsa.
At the beginning of 2023, there was still talk of up to 500 people being taken in by the initial reception facility. It was originally due to open in June. In future, refugees will first be accommodated in the facility before being distributed to other municipalities. During a visit at the beginning of the year, Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD) praised the location. "The property is ideal for accommodating people who are particularly in need of protection," she said.
The new arrivals at the emergency shelter in Bad Sachsa are seeking asylum, as they are considered vulnerable refugees. Due to their status, they require specialized care and accommodations, such as the partially barrier-free facility.
Source: www.dpa.com
