Main-Kinzig-Kreis to become a safe haven

Foreclosure is not a political means / ‘sign of solidarity’

The Main-Kinzig district is to become a ‘safe haven’. The Green Party and the Left Party are submitting a motion to this effect for the next meeting of the district council: "Recent events in Afghanistan show how important the reception of refugees is", says Mahwish Iftikhar, spokeswoman for integration and migration of the Green parliamentary group.

“While states such as the US were able to evacuate many people, Germany was hampered by its own bureaucracy and leaders stressed “that 2015 must not be repeated”. They did not mean the humanitarian catastrophes, but the refugees seeking protection in Germany", criticises Iftikhar.

Foreclosure is not a political means in times of need: "The Safe Harbors Initiative declares its solidarity with people on the run, advocates safe escape routes and wants to ensure that refugees arrive and stay in Germany." Already 267 municipalities and districts have made this declaration, only the Main-Kinzig district has not: ‘The Main-Kinzig district already had the opportunity to become a ‘safe haven’ in 2019. A corresponding request from the Left and Greens was rejected by the SPD and the CDU and an amendment was adopted instead." In this, the circle is committed to its legal and humanitarian obligation to take in refugees: "If the Grand Coalition feels bound by this amendment, due to the humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan, they must now make a commitment to welcome vulnerable people and accordingly declare the Main-Kinzig district a safe haven. Rejecting the application in the current situation would be a clear contrast to the application specifically submitted and adopted in 2019,” emphasises Iftikhar.

The initiative puts a total of eight demands on cities and districts, including support for reception programmes or national and European networking: “We want the circle to implement all these demands. That is why, after joining the initiative, he should also get in touch with them to discuss the implementation possibilities together", says Iftikhar.

There is an urgent need for more solidarity in order to achieve a rethink on the part of the European Union: “A humanitarian catastrophe has been taking place at the European external borders for years. Since 2014, almost 22,000 people have drowned on the run.’ Those who make the difficult crossing past Frontex and the Libyan Coast Guard have to live in European detention centres under ‘unreasonable hygiene conditions and without adequate basic services’, Iftikhar points out: “There is a lack of electricity and running water, as well as weatherproof accommodation. Moreover, due to the close spatial and poor hygienic conditions, the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in the refugee camps.”

Joining the initiative is an important sign of solidarity: "The circle missed this signal in 2019, now we hope for broad support together with the left," Iftikhar concluded.

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Enquiries to:

Jakob Mähler
Group Managing Director
Alliance 90 / The Greens Main-Kinzig
06181/61596
0176/46763336
fraktion@gruene-mkk.de