Refugees have been welcomed with open arms in Germany in the past few days, at train stations in Munich, Dortmund and Hamburg. A warm welcome. But what's next for them? Our reporter Alena Jabarine pretended to be a refugee and spent several days in the central reception center in Hamburg-Harburg.
"Undercover" in a refugee shelter
Beds and camps in corridors and stairs - the central initial reception seems to be overcrowded.On Friday, shortly before midnight, she mingles with the waiting refugees. "New, new, are you new?" She is asked by the security guards. And fill out a form. She calls herself Zeyna Mahameed. From Gaza. It's now three o'clock in the morning, the people around her have all just arrived here, tired from their escape. They try to sleep in the corridors, in small rooms, on the stairwell. There are mattresses on the floor, but not everyone has a blanket or sleeping bag. Babies and toddlers are also included.
Many questions, no answers
But no one seems to really know what's going on. And how to proceed. Because all offices are closed at the weekend, there are only security guards in the reception center, no social workers. No one is registered, nor is there any information about when it will start. All questions, no matter whether you need duvet covers or soap, are in pain or the baby needs a doctor - it's the security guards who have to decide at the weekend whether, for example, an ambulance should be called - or not.
After a short night there is a queue for breakfast, more than two hours. And then the food runs out. But it stays calm, people give each other their bread - everyone gives the others what they are not eating.
Security instead of social workers
Mahar Hourani, a dentist from Syria, complains that security staff are on site but not social workers.People are very understanding, but after two days without information, it's hard. Mahar Hourani from Syria is a dentist and is staying at the reception center with his wife and three children. "The security people aren't trained to help us. They don't know how to be good with people without getting angry all the time." Because some are dedicated and helpful. But others chase people around as if they were animals.
"We don't need security guards; above all, we need trained employees who can treat us humanely," Mahar Hourani continued. "We need people who understand what helps us in our situation. Because this is a complicated task."
Complete disorientation
The time has come on Monday, the situation looks good at first, the social workers are there today, the clothing stores are open and also the medical consultation hours. Now you have to queue everywhere, because if you don't stand in front, you can't get to it and if you can't get to it, you can't go any further. And the offices are already closed at around 9 a.m.:too full, too much to do. There is complete disorientation.
Alena Jabarine feels a bit like being in prison as Zeyna Mahameed in the central reception center in Hamburg-Harburg.But you can't do anything but stand in line, people are kind of locked in, can't move. They're afraid they won't be there when they can get something done. Because you can't go any further without doing everything for the registration here. So wait. And keep waiting. And the lack of plan on the part of those responsible creates additional chaos - the oppressive feeling gets a little stronger here every day.
The people in the initial reception are left alone in many areas, that is the impression of our reporter.
Editor's note:
Of course, we carefully weighed up in advance whether a covert operation is justified. It is important that the public is informed about the situation in the reception camps. The Hamburg interior authorities had prevented this for months. Our research did not cause any damage, on the contrary, everyone can now form an opinion. The colleague has neither registered nor applied for asylum for her covert research - she only registered at the entrance to the central reception center in Hamburg-Harburg. Of course, she didn't use any clothing donations or the medical service either. Every newcomer was accepted, our reporter didn't take a seat away from anyone. This also applies to the food. She was not assigned a place to sleep, let alone a room. Many helpful refugees noticed her as a single woman and only because of that she got a bed in a smaller room instead of a dormitory or a tent. As a woman traveling alone, she was an exception in the initial reception - at that time there were no other women traveling alone in the facility. There was one more bed available. As a rule, families do not want to separate to sleep, and of course mothers do not leave their children alone among strangers. The article does not criticize helpers or volunteers at any point. He documents the organization. Make up your own mind whether you like it or not.
With the action " Hand in hand for Northern Germany ", whose partner this year is the Parity Welfare Association with its refugee aid, the NDR would like to present the work of the facilities and the fates of those affected with reports, reports, programs and campaigns, raise the awareness of the public and call for donations: