Conflict about container village: Fu Berlin vs. refugee accommodation

Conflict about container village: Fu Berlin vs. refugee accommodation

The property on Thielallee 63 in Berlin-Dahlem, which is currently still acting as a parking space, is to be converted into a container village for 260 refugees according to the Senate's plans. Free University of Berlin, which actually wants to build a building for teaching and research there, is skeptical and defends itself against the temporary accommodation of refugees on the premises. The President of the FU, Günter Ziegler, expressed resentment that the university management was not included in the decision and confirmed that the area was urgently needed from 2023 for its own construction work.

The FU Berlin emphasized its willingness to support refugee people as far as possible. In the past, the university had already provided emergency accommodation for refugees at short notice. Despite the commitment to supporting migrants, FU pointed out that the property in question is urgently needed for its own construction projects.

The Senate decided at the end of March to build 16 other container villages to accommodate refugees in Berlin. The planned locations mainly focus on the city's eastern districts, which increases the imbalance in the distribution of refugees. Despite the efforts of the Senate, the 16 container villages are not sufficient, and it is planned to create further accommodations.

in connection with the protests against the planned refugee container village on the universe area in Steglitz-Zehlendorf, criticism was expressed, especially against FU Berlin. Some voices online described the university as inconsistent in terms of its other openness and tolerance, since it defends itself against the temporary accommodation of refugees. The discrepancy between the values ​​for which the FU is in and its rejection of the planned container village is perceived as crumbling Woke facade.