“We don’t leave anyone on the street” – Planegg’s Mayor Hermann Nafziger (CSU) is enthusiastic about the “overwhelming willingness to help” for Ukrainian refugees from the population, from clubs and churches. At a press conference, the mayor now emphasized that the municipality had the situation well under control. In the town hall alone, in addition to the mayor, four other people take care of the 152 mostly women and children who, many of them deeply traumatized, ended up in the Würmtal municipality: Deputy Mayor Judith Grimme (Greens), the former Treasurer Peter Vogel, press officer Kiki Xander and refugee officer Mohamed Chadid. They have created a network of organizations to ensure that the arrival of the refugees runs as smoothly as possible and to integrate them as quickly as possible.
63 children are among the refugees – three infants, otherwise all age groups up to 17 years. 21 children are currently being taught in the elementary school and another four in the high school. The families are mostly housed by private individuals, but according to Nafziger, the municipality has to think about whether it won’t create new accommodation again: “We’re waiting for instructions from the district office,” he says, “because we’re assuming that there will be more more refugees are coming. And where are the people supposed to go once the war is over – their country has been largely destroyed.”
Residential containers would be a solution
It is conceivable to set up residential containers again in the western S-Bahn car park. According to Mohamed Chadid, around 20 places are currently available in the existing accommodations in Planegg and Martinsried. However, one has to think about whether it is practicable or even desirable to relocate predominantly young women with children from the Ukraine to the mostly male refugees from Africa or Islamic states.
After registering in the town hall, Ukrainians can apply for a basic financial security based on Hartz IV from June onwards. The money is paid out in cash at the town hall in Planegg. However, the refugees should open free accounts. They are currently receiving treatment certificates for medical care, and from June they will have basic health insurance. Rides on local public transport are free.
The town hall has its own online job portal for refugee Ukrainians because, unlike refugees from other countries, they are allowed to work without any problems. Mayor Nafziger certainly sees “signs of a two-class society” here, which is not unproblematic.
Of course, “there is still a lot to be done locally,” says Nafziger, and we are urgently waiting for further support and instructions from the Munich district office.” And nothing would work without the willingness to help from the population. “Many Planeggers are currently spending their complete free time for the refugees”, press spokeswoman Xander observed. She praises the good cooperation with the Würmtal Island and the Asylum Helpers’ Group. Deputy Mayor Judith Grimme refers to a facility of the Asylum Helpers’ Group in the evangelical forest church in Planegg. The “Begegnungscafé” is there Open to refugees every Monday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the parish hall.