It’s not applause that greets the refugees from Ukraine who, desperate and exhausted from a nerve-wracking journey day after day, arrive at Munich Central Station. Since the emotional welcome in the fall of the refugees in 2015, a much stronger currency has established itself, on which the willingness of the people of Munich to help is based. Helping doesn’t just mean showing heart, but working hand in hand with the city, aid organizations and volunteers to inform and coordinate. Because what the people, mainly women and children, need most urgently is someone who will guide them in a friendly manner through a strange system.
First and foremost, this includes finding a safe place to stay. Pillows, blankets, diapers, toothpaste, tampons and a warm meal are also needed. Urban society organized all of this at breathtaking speed. As early as day three of the war in Ukraine, this newspaper also published a steadily growing list of private and public initiatives, artists and students, queer groups, religious communities, food banks, innkeepers and business people who have since made specific offers to the support refugees. The large number of people who are willing to take in refugees in their private homes is also impressive.
the “Advent calendar for good works of the Süddeutsche Zeitung” offers support to people in need – these days especially those fleeing the war in Ukraine. If you want to help, you can donate to the SZ Advent calendar:
“Advent calendar for good works of the Süddeutsche Zeitung eV”
Stadtsparkasse Munich
IBAN: DE86 7015 0000 0000 6007 00
BIC: SSKMDEMMXXX
Purpose: Ukraine
You can donate online here. Every donation goes to a good cause without any deductions. Süddeutsche Verlag bears all material and administrative costs. An overview of the other options available for providing aid to war victims can be found at: www.sz.de/ukrainehilfe
The fact that everything seems to work properly is due to a professionalization in refugee aid. Since 2015 at the latest, it has come as no surprise to anyone that people leave their homes to escape wars and, increasingly, climate catastrophes. At the end of 2020, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNHCR) estimated that 82.4 million people were fleeing their homes worldwide. Europe, and above all Germany, is a coveted destination for global migration.
Since 2015, the city of Munich has also promoted the networking of municipal and private help and the support of initiatives such as the non-profit association “Munich Volunteers”. However, one realization is that there is still room for improvement here. The officially coordinated aid for the refugees from the Ukraine started far too slowly, which led to shameful conditions for the arrivals at the main train station. It was overdue that Mayor Dieter Reiter has now offensively declared the help a top priority. The pragmatic approach that has determined events since the middle of last week, in order to convert hotels and halls into accommodation, but also to finally organize donations in kind in a targeted manner, promises to be the right direction on what will probably be a long way.