Bavaria struggles to meet challenge of arriving migrants

The human and physical resources of Bavaria are being stretched by the tens of thousands of refugees and migrants who have arrived at Munich's central train station from Austria. Although the number of arrivals has diminished from 14,000 on September 12th due to the closure of borders by transit countries, they still constitute a major challenge.

After preliminary processing in tented facilities at the station, newcomers board buses for accommodation in various localities. Elise, a doctor working at a local public health institute, says that, in general, once they have registered and received a place to stay, “they come to us for examinations and blood tests. Some arrive without being registered because they are found walking beside the highway by the police or because there was no time for registration.”

Although there are not enough doctors, she says, “the refugees . . . have to be examined by a doctor”, with nurses and the Red Cross assisting.

Injuries

The refugees arrive with “a plastic bag and a smartphone”, she adds. “They wear shorts and T-shirts, and have injuries to their feet and ankles from walking great distances. They also have problems with legs and backs. They are scanned for Aids, TB and other communicable diseases. Their wounds are treated or they are referred to the hospital. Some have been tortured or shot.”

As the medical teams have to focus mainly on physical injuries and ailments, Elise expresses frustration at the lack of time available to deal with trauma and other psychiatric problems, which are her speciality. She says Germany needs "a big emergency plan" to handle the influx.

There are 850-900 refugees in her district alone. At present, her institute is caring for 80-90 Syrian men between the ages of 17 and 30.

“They come from all levels of society,” she says. “Some are engineers, some areprofessors.”

Gymnasium

They are living in a gymnasium where there are places for 150, but she expects this number to double (bunk beds have been ordered). The accommodation provides folding army cots, showers, toilets and washing machines and dryers.

“Now they are getting winter clothes,” Elise says. “Most [of those who come] are men. Due to concern over communicable diseases, the women and children were moved to another place. All of the women who came were married. Not all wore headscarves.”

For recreation, young men hosted at the gym “walk around the city talking, go to supermarkets. Most do not have much money, [although] some may get money from their families. A few have a lot of money. They wear different clothes and buy more [things] than the others.”

Elise says some of the refugees simply "disappear". They want to go to Sweden, Holland, France or other places. They pause for a rest and help, then go on their way. The majority stay.

“In the administrative district of our city, more and more new homes for the newcomers are being opened or constructed,” she says. “As this has to happen quickly, these are mostly gyms or old army barracks or apartment buildings [built] for families of US, French or English soldiers that need to be checked for safety and renovated.”