Neglected East German shelters return to use in refugee crisis

Once used as temporary housing for East Germans fleeing communism, container homes in western Berlin have been dragged out of neglect to host a record influx of refugees.

Built in 1989 to host waves of East Germans who crossed into the more prosperous West in the turbulent months before the Berlin Wall fell, the shelter now shows clear signs of neglect, with washrooms smelling of urine and taps leaking.

Nevertheless, asylum-seekers battle to stay here, as the alternative would likely mean a night in the open.

"The police bring us new refugees every night," said Isadora Royer, a social worker at the shelter in Spandau.

Asylum-seekers who cannot be registered immediately on arrival in Berlin are often brought to the shelter or others dotted across the capital.

But all the centres are bursting at the seams given the massive influx of refugees in recent weeks.

Authorities have already freed up army barracks, schools or gyms to house the thousands of refugees. Discussions are underway to requisition and convert other sites including disused airports.

"Germany is expecting 800,000 asylum-seekers this year," said Manfred Nowak, who heads the Berlin chapter of the social help organisation AWO which runs 11 out of 72 such shelters across the capital.

"That means that along with the distribution quota, Berlin is required to take care of 40,000 refugees."

The Spandau shelter is now home to close to 500 people. Every two in five asylum-seekers here are Syrians.

But the infrastructure is suffering from wear and tear. In addition, there are "major problems with heating," said Nowak.

"If the next winter is harsh, would the heating hold up?," he asked.

- 'Very difficult situation' -

But the refugees have little choice.

Once all the beds are taken, and when officials start turning down new arrivals, the arguments begin, Royer said.

"The refugees will band together against us to ask 'why can't we just put mattresses on the floor?'" she said.

"It's a very difficult situation," she added.

Each room measures just 15 square metres, and often between four and six people are squeezed inside.

"We try to put Syrians with Syrians," said Royer.

Most of the refugees in the shelter are fresh arrivals, including 135 who have not yet been registered by the authorities.

"Every day they go to the registration centre ... but the queue is so long that they return empty-handed and are required to return again the next day," said the shelter's director Jyoti Chakma.

On paper, the migrants are not supposed to stay beyond three months in the centre but "these days they are staying six months, or even nine" as the asylum-seeking procedure is delayed due to the sheer volume of demand, said Chakma.

As they wait, some spend time playing with the children in the corridors.

Others sign up for German classes organised by the shelter, in the hopes that it would help them get ahead in integrating one day into German society.