Uni argues with Senate for refugee accommodation

Uni argues with Senate for refugee accommodation

The property on Thielallee 63 in Berlin-Dahlem, which is currently being used as a parking lot, is to be used by the Senate to build a container village to accommodate 260 refugees. However, the Free University in the noble district opposes these plans because it wants to build a building for teaching and research on the site. The President of the University, Günter Ziegler, complains that the university management was not informed about the Senate plans and emphasizes that the area is urgently needed for its own construction projects.

FU Berlin is fundamentally ready to support refugees and has already provided emergency accommodation in the university in the past. However, she points out that the property is needed for construction measures after 2023 and that alternative locations for refugee accommodation, such as vacant buildings of the Federal Real Estate Tasks, nearby.

The special representative for refugee questions at the Senate, Albrecht Broemme, shows understanding for the concerns of the university, but emphasizes the urgency of refugee accommodation. He explains that as long as the property remains unused and refugees could temporarily be accommodated there. Despite the controversy, Broemme is looking for solutions to take into account the needs of the university and the refugees.