Rheine. “The situation in Ukraine is dramatic, humanitarian aid is now absolutely essential,” explained Alderman Raimund Gausmann today. In the department of schools, social affairs, migration and integration, an internal crisis team has been formed to deal with the accommodation and social care of people from Ukraine and to coordinate offers of assistance and donations.
“We are prepared in Rheine to receive refugees,” explains Raimund Gausmann. Currently, 50 people could be accommodated quickly and unbureaucratically, further capacities are now being additionally activated on the part of the city of Rheine. The extent to which a centralized reception and distribution of the refugees will take place is currently still being clarified between the federal government and the states. The Association of Towns and Municipalities assumes that the municipalities will receive concrete information in the course of this week. “However, we also assume that many people from Ukraine are looking for contact with relatives and friends living in Germany and arrive in the cities this way. So also in Rheine.”
In order to coordinate the offers of help and inquiries, the city of Rheine has set up a central help hotline. Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., people who can offer an apartment or room or who would like to donate can call 05971 939-990 or send an e-mail to . The city of Rheine will match supply and demand. The hotline is also available to relatives and, in the event of specialist questions, will refer people to the relevant municipal contact persons or advice centers.
“We also make use of the broad alliance of committed institutions, integration council, counseling centers, independent providers, churches and religious communities and associations,” Gausmann explains further. His team had invited still on today’s Monday to an on-line meeting for the cross-linking of the assistance offers and will announce further information shortly on www.rheine.de. “In 2015, Rheine again showed solidarity and commitment in the reception of refugees in the shoulder-to-shoulder cooperation of main and honorary offices. I am glad that we have this foundation and can build on it,” Gausmann concluded.