Hundreds of German towns unite to provide migrants with homes

Grassroots movement has been galvanised by Berlin protests against EU’s inaction over burning of the Moria refugee camp in Greece

Thousands protested in Berlin on Sunday to demand more action from the EU after the Moria refugee camp in Greece burnt down this month. EPA

More than 180 German municipalities and states volunteered to house more asylum seekers than the central government's quota system allows, as pressure mounts on the EU to take in migrants left homeless after Greece's largest refugee camp burnt down this month.

The move by the municipalities and states, which call themselves "sichere hafen", or safe harbours, is in response to the bloc failing to take more action to deal with migrants on the Greek island of Lesbos, many of whom have been homeless since the Moria camp was engulfed by flames on September 8.

More than 12,000 inhabitants fled the overcrowded camp, which was originally built to house 3,000 people. There were no casualties from the fire, but thousands of migrants are now without any shelter.

The grassroots campaign began in 2018, organised by international movement Seebrucke, which says it stands against “the European isolationist policy” and aims to help more refugees arrive in Europe safely.

The Safe Harbours campaign was galvanised by nationwide protests on Sunday, when thousands took to the streets to demand more EU action on the migrants displaced from the Moria camp.

About 5,000 people marched past the Victory Column in Berlin, holding signs saying "we have space" and "let the people in".

Similar demonstrations were held in Cologne, Munich and Leipzig, as well as Paris.

Seebrucke organiser Jans Behrends told The Financial Times that the grassroots movement has attracted more interest from towns and communities since the refugee camp burnt down.

“Every day we have newcomers. Sometimes, we had no idea about them,” he said.

“They just organised themselves and we found out later.”

Four Afghan migrants were charged with arson last Wednesday over alleged involvement in the fires that ravaged most of the Moria camp.

Last week, Germany’s government said it would take in 1,553 migrants – 408 families with children – from various Greek islands who already have been granted protected status in Greece.

Germany also plans to take in up to 150 unaccompanied children as part of a Europe-wide effort.

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  A man drags his belongings as refugees and migrants from the destroyed Moria camp walk towards a new temporary camp, on the island of Lesbos, Greece. Reuters

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  Refugees and migrants who were sheltered near the destroyed Moria camp, carry their belongings as they prepare to move to a new temporary camp, on the island of Lesbos, Greece. Reuters

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  Refugees and migrants who were sheltered near the destroyed Moria camp, carry their belongings as they prepare to move to a new temporary camp, on the island of Lesbos, Greece. Reuters

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  An aerial view of the new temporary camp near Kara Tepe on Lesbos island, Greece, Another 2,000 refugees and migrants were settled into the new temporary hosting facility at Kara Tepe. EPA

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  An aerial view of the new temporary camp near Kara Tepe on Lesbos island, Greece, 18 September 2020. Another 2,000 refugees and migrants were settled into the new temporary hosting facility at Kara Tepe. EPA

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  Asylum seekers wait with their belongings as refugees and migrants from the destroyed Moria camp wait to enter into the new temporary camp near Kara Tepe on Lesbos island, Greece. EPA

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  Asylum seekers wait in a line with their belongings as refugees and migrants from the destroyed Moria camp wait to enter into the new temporary camp near Kara Tepe on Lesbos island, Greece. EPA

This week, the EU will forge a new compromise among member states to deal with the disaster in Lesbos. Greece has been struggling with thousands of stranded asylum seekers since Europe's 2015 refugee crisis and has taken a hard-line approach, even secretly abandoning migrants at sea.

Migration is considered a political minefield in Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed more than 1.7 million asylum seekers into the country in 2015, which many Conservatives considered a mistake that divided the nation.

Many fear that it has emboldened the far-right, triggering a groundswell of xenophobia.

However, statistics indicate that the plan may have been a success. A study published in August found that half of the refugees who came to Germany found steady employment within five years of arriving.
A Forsa poll last week showed 50 per cent of Germans were in favour of accommodating the Moria refugees, with the others split between wanting an EU-wide approach and not wanting any newcomers at all.