Refugees

“No one has turned back”

The fictional story of the death of a Syrian refugee held the whole of Berlin in suspense. The Association of “Moabit,” lamented the hasty authorities and garnered harsh criticism, especially his spokeswoman Diana Henniges.

DW: Mrs. Henniges, what has changed for your club since the dramatic
Facebook-description as a lie as it turned out, that a Syrian, on the way to the hospital died after he for days in the cold before an authority in Berlin-Moabit had to stand in?

Nothing, absolutely nothing, of what our daily work. We have just as much to do, have as many helpers and also the donations are still very good.

No Decrease in the willingness to donate?

No, although many of their colleagues always want to hear. Of those that are so important for us, no one turned away. We have just last week 12,000 euros from the German TV show “Circus HalliGalli”.

You see your credibility is not damaged?

We have not intentionally done, but a
Helper believed, the very committed but at the same time, apparently, was overwhelmed by the conditions here at the
LaGeSo (state office for health and social Affairs, d. A.). Which the Refugees, by the way, as before, are exposed. We have publicly apologized But you can also ask, why all the media we immediately have believed.

Diana Henniges speaks for the Initiative Moabit helps”

Why?

Here in Berlin every day, the asylum seeker welfare law manifold broken, with dramatic consequences for the Refugees. This is no secret. What the Situation of the most Vulnerable concerns, in Berlin completely disregarded. There are Pregnant women in gyms, disabled, in the 4th. Floor are accommodated, without a lift. With cancer, no chemotherapy, because the necessary certificate for payment, how long it takes.

There are but directly at the “Lageso” a medical base of the Caritas.

The capacity is not enough, here can per day, perhaps 15 to 20 are especially vulnerable are treated. But at least 50 would have to be it.

After it was known that the deceased Syrians do not even exist, said the Berlin Innensenator Frank Henkel (CDU) of the “worst and most deceptive campaign” he had ever experienced. In the social networks down a Shitstorm on you personally.

If Mr. Henkel says something is the message in the newspaper, in the morning wrapped fish. Me is especially important, that the people believe in us, and need our help. It’s true, we have 500 sardonic or hate mail: “you can do it, probably not more, donations to collect, there was a dead refugee. But we have enough”. We are from the right corner, also privately threatened, it is why we must care, because the stand with us at the front door. Since running multiple Ads at the police station.

How does the daily work of the “Moabit helps”?

Things of all kinds to sort and issue that will be donated. Hygiene products shopping, people advise, donations to acquire. We call the police, youth welfare office, social welfare office and ask questions. We are multipliers. The hard core of helpers, which are approximately 60 people working in Two-shift System. Half of them are themselves Refugees.

“Moabit,” says refugees welcome

The Berlin Lageso” applies nationwide as a bad example for dealing with refugees. Long waiting times, opaque structures. Recently was the head replaced. Do you see any signs that the Chaos thins?

The new boss and some consultants from McKinsey, also personnel from the police reinforced the authority. External expertise could be the encrusted structures break up, because in other States, there will be even better. For example, the new local authority leader to ensure that registered Refugees, at least, quickly 100 Euro advance payment received, if it is due to the large backlog already not in a timely manner with the standard works. Before that, there were sometimes weeks of no money for the Refugees. We have then in a week from charitable donations sometimes food vouchers for 10,000 Euro.

On your shelf there are two Megaphones. What are the?

We have only last week to a group of Afghan refugees awarded against the conditions here at the Lageso protested.

The Interview was conducted by Bernd Gräßler