- Land plans emergency shelter for refugees in Ahlhorn
The State Reception Authority (SRA) is planning to set up an emergency shelter for refugees in Ahlhorn (district of Oldenburg). The state is examining the implementation of a temporary accommodation in the municipality of Großenkneten for up to 530 people, as the authority announced. They are in contact with the owner of the residential park on the former airbase.
According to media reports, the town with around 8,200 inhabitants is opposing the plans. Mayor Thorsten Schmidtke (SPD) was initially not available for a statement. The focus of the planning is on the local conditions, "to also shape the social interaction with the residents of Ahlhorn positively," the SRA announced. "Here, good care for the refugees and, in particular, social work plays a major role."
The shelter could be ready as early as the beginning of 2025. If the two-year rental contract is concluded, the shelter will be operated with service providers. Individual services such as catering, social services, medical care, or security will then be publicly tendered by the state. There is no specific date yet; according to the SRA, the facility could be operational as early as the beginning of 2025.
The authority aims to expand the available places with good accommodation quality. "By increasing the number of reception places and extending the duration of stay in the initial reception, the municipalities in Lower Saxony can be relieved."
Many asylum applications in Lower Saxony
The number of asylum applications in Lower Saxony remains high. By the reference date of June 30, 13,475 applications had been submitted in the first half of the year. For comparison: Around 29,000 applications were submitted in the entire previous year. As in the previous year, people from Syria submitted the most applications, followed by Turkish, Colombian, Iraqi, and Afghan nationals.
The SRA is considering conducting additional studies in a laboratory to ensure the safety and suitability of the materials for the emergency shelter in Ahlhorn. The refurbishment of the temporary accommodation in Großenkneten will involve rigorous inspections and tests carried out in a laboratory to meet all necessary health and safety regulations.
