Graz arrival center starts operations

The refugees are registered in the arrival center in exhibition hall D, and there is also space for medical care. There are no plans for people to spend the night in the hall: the plan is for people to be taken to the exhibition center if they arrive in Graz by train, for example. There they provide their data, take a coronavirus test and receive medical care if necessary; then they are to be taken by buses to shelters in individual communities. All of this should be completed within hours, which is why no entire halls with beds are prepared.

“These are mainly families who also want to stay together. That’s why we make sure that in residential buildings they can stay together if there are enough apartments available,” explains Graz Mayor Elke Kahr (KPÖ).

4,000 quarters throughout Styria

As was the case with the wave of refugees in 2015 and 2016, the accommodations will be in smaller quarters. So far, around 4,000 available places have been reported, but some are constantly being added. The places are available via a state hotline (0800/201010) and also reported via the neighborhood help of the federal care agency of Styrians, who create space for refugees in their houses and apartments.

In addition to the quarters provided by the state, the municipalities and private individuals, there are also facilities organized by the federal government: These include the refugee quarters in Steinhaus am Semmering, Graz-Andritz and Leoben – these three are, however mainly occupied by asylum seekers. In contrast, people from the Ukraine have also been accommodated in a container village in Graz-Puntigam since last week: There is space for around 200 people – more on this is also available in the Large Quarters for Refugees in Graz.

More quarters needed

However, the number of quarters will not be sufficient, says State Councilor Christopher Drexler (ÖVP): “This wave of helpfulness is very positive. We are very proud of the Styrians. Nevertheless, we must ask for more quarters to be made available, because it will be the largest wave of displaced persons and refugees in Europe.”

Caritas is also preparing for a further increase in the number of refugees, says Director Herbert Beiglböck: “We expect the numbers to increase significantly and the need to increase in the next few days. There are numbers of 5,000, 10,000, 12,000 people who may come to Styria – we will see how the situation develops and we also have to be prepared for a larger number of people.”

Welcome class set up for children

There are also many children among the refugees, and some are already in Styrian school classes. In Graz, work began on Monday to integrate around 60 to 70 children from the Ukraine into school operations – more on this in school classes welcome refugees.

“The influx is already stronger in Graz. We have set up a welcome school there. School quality management is there and there are also Ukrainian-speaking interpreters there,” says Styrian Education Director Elisabeth Meixner.

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