Local inspection “Krone” in the old university complex on the Vienna Alsergrund. The city has set up emergency sleeping places for up to 1,000 children and women from Ukraine, much less luxurious than in the Hotel de France.
The terrible war in Ukraine has been raging for almost nine months. Since then, a total of eight million people have fled the country. The city has now opened a new, larger arrivals center at Althanstraße 14.
“After more than eight months of war, it is now necessary to adapt the existing infrastructure,” said Social Council member Peter Hacker (SPÖ). As many as 1000 emergency sleeping places are available in the former Biozentrum. However, the displaced are only allowed to stay here for a short time until further steps are clarified. 250 emergency beds have already been set up. There is also a separate playroom for children here. So that the little ones at least have a moment to think differently.
Walkway outside to showers
Since Tuesday, 20 women and children have been housed there. A local inspection “Krone” soon shows that the accommodation is still in the middle of a renovation. The showers are located outside the building in containers. Residents must first cross an outdoor footpath to get there.
Not exactly ideal in winter. However, this should only be a “temporary solution”, emphasizes the Red Cross, which is responsible for the organization. The displaced people who were housed in the Hotel der France, the former luxury hotel on the Ringstrasse, have a much better life there.
Soon 40 showers will be added to the building. In any case, the toilet facilities have already been adapted. Dixi toilets were previously used on site. Until a few days ago, there were 300 to 400 young men from Syria and Afghanistan here. They were reportedly distributed among the states shortly before the center opened. Where exactly? Officials are silent about this.
Austria was and still is an important transit point for people expelled from Ukraine. According to the Interior Ministry, 455,300 Ukrainians have traveled through Austria since the start of the war. Since the beginning of the war, about 130,000 people have been taken care of in the former arrival center of Ukraine in the sports and entertainment hall in the 2nd district. The hall will soon close.
The Vienna Social Fund assumes that larger groups of displaced persons from the Ukraine will come to Vienna again in winter.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
