Berlin revamps Ukrainian refugee acceptance criteria to help protect LGBTQ and minorities

According to Berlin Senator Katja Kipping, more and more people who need special medical care or social services have been coming to the city

Today, the Berlin Senate ruled on adopting additional measures for supporting Ukrainian refugees. The decision was made after a presentation by Katja Kipping, Senator for Integration, Labor and Social Affairs in Berlin’s senate with the new package of measures aimed specifically at more vulnerable people like LGBTQ and minorities.

Although all refugees fleeing the Russian invasion have suffered a lot, according to a statement by Berlin authorities, a growing number of people need special protection or have acute medical, nursing and/or psychological needs.

Thus, the city will adopt a range of criteria to prevent medical and support services from being overwhelmed. All the measures are linked to Germany’s refugee redistribution system and will work to speed up the transfer of Ukrainians away from the capital to other federal states.

Who gets to stay in Berlin?

As thousands of Ukrainian refugees are coming to Germany, they will face the national distribution system (Königsteiner key), that aims to spread out the arrivals more equally among the federal states.

When deciding where to send the refugees, authorities will now start to consider their special medical and psychological needs, making sure to send them to places that can handle the additional burden.

Furthermore, Ukrainians will be allocated to Berlin if they have a permanent resident status of a lease for at least 6 months or confirmation for accommodation. This also applies to people who have a confirmation of a job, study or training position in the German capital.

Lastly, people would be allocated to Berlin if they have parents or children, siblings, grandparents or grandchildren, regardless of whether they can provide accommodation for their relatives. Pregnant women or women who have recently given birth will also have the opportunity to go to Berlin if they want to.

Coordinating medical services and LGBTQ people

The main reason for amending the current allocation procedures is to prevent an overload of Berlin’s standard care systems. This is why the State Office for Refugee Affairs will establish a coordinated transfer procedure for people with special needs to other federal states.

Thus, when refugees arrive, they will receive initial care and go through a pre-screening process for a needs-based transfer to the country, if they do not meet the criteria to remain in Berlin.

According to the city, when it comes to minorities and LGBTQ people, who are particularly vulnerable to discrimination, they will only be sent to states with a comparable advisory and support system. This is especially true of people who declare themselves trans.