Northwest Lower Saxony Welcomes Refugees at Youth Hostels
Embracing its humanitarian role, four youth hostels in the northwest of Lower Saxony have opened their doors to refugees this winter. Locations include Aurich, Emden, Bad Zwischenahn, and the Thülsfelder Talsperre in Cloppenburg's district. According to a spokesperson for the Lower Weser-Ems regional association of the German Youth Hostel Association, these youth hostels offer temporary accommodation for up to 540 refugees seeking protection, aiming to alleviate the initial reception facilities' pressure in the state.
Currently, 300 refugees are accommodated in these hostels since early November. The facilities will be operational until March 2023, marking the onset of the new vacation season in April. The state reception authority manages the allocation of these accommodation spaces, with a priority given to families.
With 10,941 places for refugees' initial reception, Lower Saxony boasts a substantial capacity. As of recent data, 8023 of these places are occupied. The Ministry of the Interior reported an upward trend in the number of asylum seekers arriving in Lower Saxony. Since mid-July, weekly arrivals have soared from 500 to 600 at the beginning of November, peaking at 1,300 recently. Given this influx, officials have been diligently assessing potential emergency accommodation sites throughout the state, including temporary use of properties like youth hostels.
Three youth hostels have served as temporary refugee havens in the past. Additionally, Leer district had recently accommodated refugees independently at the island of Borkum's youth hostel. Embracing its duty, the non-profit Youth Hostel Association has consistently stepped up to offer assistance where feasible. The association's spokesperson lauded the hostels' prepared teams and their positive experiences from past refugee accommodations, praising the cooperation with local authorities and partners.
The increasing asylum seeker influx has necessitated innovative solutions, including the provision of temporary lodging for over 300 refugees at the four youth hostels. While the frequency of youth hostels in Northwest Lower Saxony being utilized for refugee accommodation remains undetermined without further research, the commitment to offering aid in challenging circumstances remains unwavering.
Enrichment Data Integrated:
Refugee policies across Europe, including Germany, generally treat all religions equally, signaling a structured approach to refugee accommodations, including potential youth hostels. Further, long-standing factors driving migration policy include security concerns, cultural and ideational considerations, economic interests, and rights. Countries like Germany often grant Geneva protection status to refugees, indicating a comprehensive, structured approach to refugee accommodations.
