Ukrainian refugees find temporary home at Berlin’s former TXL airport

Record ID: 1665065

  • Title: Ukrainian refugees find temporary home at Berlin’s former TXL airport
  • Date: 22nd March 2022
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (MARCH 22, 2022) (REUTERS) 1 AIRPORT TOWER / REGISTRATION TENTS SET UP ON TARMAC OFFICIALS STANDING NEAR GROUP OF PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE GANGWAY SEEN THROUGH WINDOWS / BUNKBEDS INSIDE TERMINAL BUILDING VIEW ONTO TARMAC THROUGH WINDOW, BEDS IN FOREGROUND GANGWAY TENTS ON TARMAC VARIOUS OF GERMAN SOLDIERS SEATED AT DESKS IN REGISTRATION TENT OFFICIAL HOLDING SEVERAL UKRAINIAN PASSPORTS WOMEN AND YOUNG BOY AT REGISTRATION DESK “WELCOME” SIGN IN ENGLISH AND UKRAINIAN IN ARRIVALS HALL PEOPLE AND DOG WALKING IN ARRIVALS HALL CHILDCARE AREA INSIDE WHAT USED TO BE A SUPERMARKET STUFFED ANIMALS ON BOX COUPLE WALKING INTO CHILDCARE AREA VARIOUS OF DONATED CLOTHES HANGING IN ARRIVALS HALL VARIOUS OF BEDS SEEN THROUGH WINDOW ON GALLERY ABOVE ARRIVALS HALL (SOUNDBITE) (German) SPOKESMAN FOR BERLIN’S REFUGEE AGENCY, SASCHA LANGENBACH, SAYING: “We have a lot of families, some of whom arrive with their cat in their arms or a dog on a leash (smiles). We hope to be able to give adequate answers to these people, some of whom are still in shock, in their very, very difficult situation. Our hands are stretched out and we are very happy when the Ukrainian war refugees reach out for them to find good solutions together.” VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN ARRIVALS HALL (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF TXL REFUGEE SHELTER, DETLEF CWOJDZINSKI, SAYING: “We planned a capacity of up to 10,000 people here at this hub but this is purely a plan so that if necessary, we can increase numbers. But for now, that capacity of 10,000 has not been reached. At the same time, we offer accommodation for those who stay in Berlin for the first few days when they arrive in the city before they are being distributed elsewhere.” PEOPLE WALKING ON TARMAC (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF TXL REFUGEE SHELTER, DETLEF CWOJDZINSKI, SAYING: “Even those people who continue their journey to other parts of Germany can spend the night here. There are several hundred beds where we offer a one night stay, along with food and drinks and any help they need, of course.” PEOPLE WALKING ON TARMAC (SOUNDBITE) (German) HEAD OF TXL REFUGEE SHELTER, DETLEF CWOJDZINSKI, SAYING (on COVID VACCINATIONS): “We are noticing that on their first day, there is obviously no demand to get vaccinated but those who stay in Berlin are making use of the vaccination centres to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. Here, where there is also a vaccination centre, we will go a step further and offer vaccinations for children against other diseases because we noticed that the vaccination status is not that good. So we want to offer a complete vaccination package for children and against the coronavirus for anyone in need.” TENTS ON TARMAC VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON TARMAC BOARDING BUS
  • Embargoed: 5th April 2022 16:08
  • Keywords: Berlin TXL Tegel airport Ukrainian refugees children families shelter welcome centre
  • Location: Berlin, GERMANY
  • City: Berlin, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA001634622032022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Berlin’s disused Tegel airport has become a temporary shelter for Ukrainian refugees and will be able to handle up to 10,000 people, German aid organisations said on Tuesday (March 22).
    "We have a lot of families” arriving, said Sascha Langenbach, spokesman for Berlin’s refugee agency, adding “we hope to be able to give adequate answers to these people, some of whom are still in shock."
    Former Tegel airport will be used as a hub where arriving Ukrainians are registered before they move to other parts of Germany by bus or train.
    "At the same time, we offer accommodation for those who stay in Berlin for the first few days when they arrive in the city before they are being distributed elsewhere,” said Detlef Cwojdzinski who heads the operation at Tegel.
    By Monday (March 21), 225,375 Ukrainian refugees had arrived in Germany, according to the interior ministry.
    TXL, as Tegel airport is known to locals, was closed in November 2020 and was used as a COVID vaccination centre during the height of the pandemic.
    (Production: Oliver Ellrodt, Michele Sani)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2022. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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