SANGERHAUSEN. In the Saxony-Anhalt district of Mansfeld-Südharz, 15 residents of a refugee shelter refused to help clean up after the January floods. At the time, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) also traveled to Sangerhausen. Now 4,000 tons of sand – half of all bags – must be removed.
District administrator André Schröder (CDU) announces loudly Image-Newspaper: “We have committed ourselves to helping 64 asylum seekers. However, fifteen of them refused to work without good reason.” The politician announced that he would cut benefits for those who refused to work.
Background: valid Migrants living in shared accommodation, according to Article 5 of the Asylum Seeker Benefits Act, you can be obliged to perform community service to a limited extent. The district has done this.
Refugees must continue to work
Schröder is shocked by the refusal: “We will not tolerate this. A corresponding reduction in benefits by the district will now take place immediately. We may require anyone who seeks protection from us from other countries to do work that serves the public interest. We will implement this consistently.”
The remaining 49 refugees from the accommodation showed up for military service. In the area around Sangerhausen, the Helme river had overflowed its banks over the years. The country has declared a disaster. Bundeswehr soldiers and many volunteers helped protect residents from the floods. (fh)