Investigation by 'Team Wallraff' Reveals Alleged Mishaps and Hidden Contract Information in Germany's Largest Refugee Facility Backed by a Billionaire
In an investigation led by Günter Wallraff and his team, troubling revelations regarding Berlin's Tegel refugee shelter have surfaced. Despite receiving over €298 million in taxpayer funds in 2023, conditions for the approximately 3000 refugees housed in the facility appear unacceptable.
The shelter, which houses residents in open "hives" with up to 14 individuals per unit, lacks essential amenities such as proper doors, room ceilings, and privacy space. With the German state paying around €1.2 million daily, each refugee effectively receives €400 per day, prompting Green Party member Christoph Wapler to say, "It's the most expensive shelter with the worst conditions."
The State Office for Refugee Affairs (LAF), responsible for the shelter, has stated that standards for emergency shelters like Tegel are not strictly enforced. However, the LAF acknowledges that the current arrangements do not meet the individual space requirements of a regular refugee facility.
An RTL reporter, working undercover at Tegel as part of the ASB team, found little evidence of productive activity among employees. One shift leader admitted, "This is just busywork for me. Imagine if we didn't have the checklists, what would we do?" The DRK, which commissions charitable organizations to care for refugees, maintains that staffing levels are based on professional standards and guidelines from the State of Berlin.
Some ASB employees reported being unable to perform care tasks due to strict regulations, such as being barred from supervising children using art supplies. The ASB explained that childcare is managed by appropriately trained personnel to ensure the protection of children.
Jan Omar and Christoph Wapler, Green Party politicians involved in budget allocation and refugee accommodation decisions, expressed shock after being shown the detailed contracts revealing the Tegel shelter's finances. Omar criticized the practice of hiring staff without sufficient work, likening it to a waste of resources that harms the refugees themselves.
Elif Eralp from The Left compared the conditions in Tegel to other facilities, where residents live better, receive better care, and have fewer complaints. Eralp remarked that in Tegel, residents live on less than two square meters per person, compared to seven square meters elsewhere.
Further insight into the Tegel refugee shelter can be found in the upcoming #wallraffen show on RTL, airing today, May 26 at 22:35. The show is also available on RTL+.
- Despite significant investments in refugee accommodations, as seen in the €298 million allocated to Berlin's Tegel shelter in 2023, the general-news continues to surface troubling conditions, with each resident receiving €400 per day and living with inadequate amenities.
- Subpar conditions within the Tegel refugee shelter, funded extensively by taxpayers, have raised concerns among politicians like Jan Omar and Christoph Wapler, who question the allocation of funds and accuse the shelter of being a waste of resources, given the poor living conditions.
- Political discussions surrounding finance and budget allocation have recently been stirred up, with crime-and-justice implications, as criminal investigations could potentially ensue from the revelations concerning public funding mismanagement at the Tegel refugee shelter.
