Countries are required – tent dispute: “The cat bites the tail”

Andreas Achrainer has been the head of the Federal Agency for Care and Support Services (BBU) since 2019. He and his team have their hands full: basic care, legal advice, return guidance. And accommodation. A large field on which tents are now erected. A total of 200 refugees live there. In Upper Austria, Carinthia, Tyrol – 16 were resettled there. It was about “building black”. There is resistance to the tent camps that symbolize the crisis of 2022.

In the Attergau people protested (involuntarily flanked by right-wing extremists). Achrainer: “There is a basic service agreement. Ten contractors. The federal government and nine states.” The states are responsible. “Of the 8,000 people in basic federal care, 5,500 should be transferred immediately. The countries must make places available. Then no tents are needed.”

The countries are asked: “Hope for reason”
As a federal agency, 15 locations were listed. “But then I need the approval of the provincial governors.” They are not happy. The federal government has no right of access to the federal states. But the federal government can build neighborhoods on its property. About containers. But building permits from the federal states can take time. Tents are available immediately. But you don’t want to see them. “The cat bites its own tail.”

Attorney Achrainer relies on communication in the coordination board. “I’d rather have every tent before people are homeless.” People look for solutions. The situation will not improve any time soon, everyone agrees so far. New refugees arrive every day. The coordinator wants to tear down all the tents tomorrow. “I’m still hoping for common sense.”