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Initial reception centre in Suhl (archive)

Photo: Michael Reichel / dpa

Thuringia is currently unable to take in any more people in the state initial reception centre for refugees in Suhl. Arriving people would be distributed either to Eisenberg, Hermsdorf or, if possible, to other federal states, said a spokesman for the Ministry of Migration.

As a reason for the admission stop, he cited the high burden of the past few days. The decision was made on Friday evening. On Friday, more than 1500 people were accommodated in the Suhl reception center. Only 1400 are allowed under fire protection law. Previously, the MDR had reported on the recording stop.

The spokesman was not yet able to give current occupancy figures for Saturday, as they were constantly changing. It is now a matter of returning to regular operations in Suhl as quickly as possible. For Suhl, according to government figures, the number of 800 refugees is the limit for regular operations. At the same time, the spokesman called for more financial resources from the federal government – also for the municipalities, which, according to him, bear the brunt of taking in refugees. Many municipalities are already close to the breaking point.

Thuringia "at the limit" – other federal states report congestion

Already in mid-September, Thuringia's Prime Minister had also intervened in the debate. The initial reception facility in Suhl has "long since taken in more people than we consider justifiable," Ramelow told the Rheinische Post. The regular operation there assumes 800 people, we are at over 1000. And we continue to have a strong influx.« Thuringia as a whole is "at the limit" when it comes to taking in refugees.

Other federal states have also already reported congestion. Many accommodation facilities in Lower Saxony have already gone into emergency occupancy, said Lower Saxony's Interior Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD). As a result, "the quality of the accommodation and thus also the living situation of the people who come to us suffers. It's getting tighter, it's getting fuller, and that increases the burden on everyone involved."

lmd/dpa