Bavarian anchor centers: fewer asylum seekers than in the previous year!

Bavarian anchor centers: fewer asylum seekers than in the previous year!

Bamberg, Deutschland - In Bavaria, the occupancy of the initial reception facilities for asylum seekers, also known as anchor centers, has dropped. While around 8,700 people still lived in these facilities at the end of May 2023, it was 10,900 in the previous year. This shows that the anchor centers are currently less filled than was the case the year before, as [Schwäbische.de reports] (https://www.schwaebische.de/regional/bayern/ankerzentren-stark-ausgelastet-als-jahr-jahr-jahr-jahr-jahr-jahr-jahr-jahr-jahr.

Especially in the anchor center in Bamberg, Upper Franconia, the Situation has changed significantly. Here the figures from 1,500 asylum seekers went back to only 700 in May 2024. A dispute over the future of this center is in the room: while the city is pushing for a decentralized accommodation, the Free State wants to continue to operate the center. There is an agreement on the operation of the facility by the end of 2025, but the talks between the municipality and the state government continue.

The structure of the anchor centers

What is behind the anchor centers? They were introduced on August 1, 2018 and are intended to organize the accommodated refugees and bundle the work of different authorities. In Bavaria there are a total of seven anchor centers and numerous branches that together offer over 12,000 places. These institutions are intended to accelerate the processing of asylum procedures, while other relevant institutions such as the BAMF, the Federal Employment Agency and the social offices are represented in one place, as Media service explained.

However, the conditions in these centers are criticized. Asylum seekers live in overcrowded multi -bed rooms, which are often designed for up to 1,000 people, and have to undergo regular checks. Access to legal advice is limited, and many months live in a state of constant uncertainty. Childcare is rudimentary, and school offers are often poor, as the Bavaria Refugee Council describes here.

length of stay and challenges

The length of stay of the asylum seekers in anchor centers can be several months to years. This is often related to lengthy processing times of the asylum applications that take up to 1.7 months. The refugees often lack privacy and a feeling of security. Medical care is also inadequate, since doctors come to the facilities sporadically, also reports Media service Integration.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the situation will develop at the anchor centers in Bavaria. The discussions between the cities and the Free State could have a decisive influence on the future orientation of the accommodation of refugees. The decline in numbers could also be a sign of the changed asylum flows or the social perception of migration in Germany.