Temporary Housing for Displaced Individuals: Profiteering from Global Displacement
The Tegel refugee accommodation in Berlin, commonly referred to as "Germany's worst and most expensive refugee shelter," has come under scrutiny due to its exorbitant daily operational costs and insufficient oversight. The facility, which reportedly cost the city over €1 million per day to operate, is currently the subject of an investigation by the Berlin Court of Auditors.
The investigation focuses on the financial management and operational checks involving Messe Berlin, the company responsible for running the Tegel refugee accommodation, and the Berlin state audit office. The high costs, combined with the facility's poor conditions, have raised concerns about the planning and use of resources.
Initially designed as a short-term registration and distribution center with stays limited to 72 to 96 hours, Tegel became a long-term shelter. As asylum seeker numbers declined by 40% in early 2025, questions about the facility's continued operation and the allocation of resources have arisen.
In response to these issues and the decreased demand, Tegel refugee shelter is set to close by the end of 2025. A central reception center (Akuz) with 2,600 places will replace the temporary accommodation from 2026.
The operation of the Tegel refugee accommodation is complex, involving the Social Senate, the State Office for Refugee Affairs (LAF), the German Red Cross (DRK) Social Work Berlin gGmbH, and a security firm commissioned by the LAF. However, the security firm responsible for the Tegel refugee accommodation was commissioned by Messe Berlin in 2013, and no new tendering occurred until shortly before Christmas 2023, potentially violating the Berlin Procurement Act.
Three security personnel were dismissed due to violent incidents at the accommodation, and many employees were found to be working as security personnel despite not meeting the legal requirements. The GEAS regulation, which establishes the identity, health status, and prospects of staying for refugees within a week, also poses a threat of deportation for those with "poor" prospects or classified as a "Dublin case" (responsible for another EU country).
As the investigation into the Tegel refugee accommodation continues, it is crucial to ensure that future refugee accommodations are managed effectively, efficiently, and humanely, prioritizing the well-being of those seeking asylum.
[1] Tagesspiegel, 2025. "Tegel refugee accommodation under investigation." [Online]. Available: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/fluechtlingsunterkunft-am-tegel-unter-aufsicht-der-staatsanwaltschaft/27277108.html
[2] Berlin Court of Auditors, 2025. "Investigation into Tegel refugee accommodation costs and management." [Online]. Available: https://www.rechnungshof-berlin.de/de/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/2025/investigation-into-tegel-refugee-accommodation-costs-and-management.html
- The investigation by the Berlin Court of Auditors not only focuses on the Tegel refugee accommodation's financial management and operational checks but also extends to the general-news domain, including politics and crime-and-justice, as questions about potential violations of the Berlin Procurement Act and inadequate employee qualifications have arisen.
- Moving forward, it's essential to ensure that the operation of future refugee accommodations adheres to sportsmanship principles, not just in terms of efficiency and effectiveness, but also in prioritizing the well-being and human rights of those seeking asylum, a reminder that is crucial in the face of ongoing politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice issues.
