Asylum – Bund starts building tents near Innsbruck
The announcement of the accommodation of asylum seekers and refugees in tents in Tyrol will be made on Thursday at the location of the police training center Wiesenhof in the municipality of Absam west of Innsbruck. “Around ten tents” would be set up there, announced Thomas Fussenegger from the Federal Support Agency (BBU) to the APA. Tyrol’s Social Counselor Gabriele Fischer (Greens) spoke of a “humanitarian catastrophe”.
Further details about the process of setting up the tents and the exact capacities were not available on Wednesday for the time being. The police training center and the police school Wiesenhof in Absam is a bit remote, far outside the town center.
Fischer spoke to the APA of a “humanitarian catastrophe” for those affected. It has been repeatedly emphasized to the federal government that tents are “completely unsuitable” for people fleeing, especially given the time of year. Fischer can – when asked about the required places – “do not understand the action”. Tyrol is “continuously” registering accommodation, which was also said to the “Federal Minister (Gerhard Karner (ÖVP), note)” last Friday. All federal states have promised the interior minister that they will “stand by” the federal government with the accommodation. In any case, the country was not informed about the erection of the tents. However, one tries to stay in touch with the federal government.
Alternatives to tent structures
In Tyrol, those responsible had already promised further accommodation this week, and the federal government should prevent the setting up of tents. Renting containers and building wooden structures are also being considered. The state proactively approached the federal government last week to show alternatives to tent construction, it was emphasized. Most recently, reference was again made to another meeting of the Migration Task Force later this week. As soon as there are specific accommodation places and options, these would be communicated, the state said.
Andreas Achrainer, head of the Federal Care Agency (BBU), which is responsible for refugees in federal care, pointed out last Saturday that Tyrol only meets 64 percent of its refugee quota. If necessary, Tyrol must accommodate 2,800 people.
A total of around 5,500 people are currently accommodated in Tyrol. Of these, around 4,900 people are currently in basic care, according to the state on the APA request on Monday. Especially in the past few weeks and months, new places have been created to take people in – especially in connection with the Ukraine conflict. (pa)