Refugees in Leipzig
The number of asylum seekers is constantly growing. The main reasons put forward for asylum are the on-going unrest and the persecution of ethnic minorities in countries such as Syria, Afghanistan or Eritrea.
According to the quota defined under the Königstein Agreement, the federal state of Saxony is required to take in 5.1 percent of all new refugees applying for asylum in Germany, of which 13 percent were then allocated to the city of Leipzig.
1.1 Million asylum seekers arrived 2015 in Germany. In 2014, 476,649 refugees applied for asylum in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
There are 4,434 asylum seekers and tolerated persons currently (Sept 2016) living in Leipzig.
In 2014, Leipzig counted 1,232 asylum seekers.
43 percent of 61,820 refugees that arrived to Saxony from 1st January until 30th November 2015 were Syrians. The other main countries of origin were Afghanistan (8,062 asylum seekers), Iraq (6,714), Pakistan (3,065) and Albania (2,481).
The asylum seekers are initially housed in an initial reception center for asylum applicants (EAE) in the Free State of Saxony, where they stay for up to six weeks and for a maximum of three months.
After three months at the latest, the asylum seekers are redistributed to various towns and districts throughout Saxony according to agreed quotas. At present, Leipzig has both collective and communal living quarters. In addition to this, approx. 56 percent of the refugees assigned to Leipzig live in their own housing spaces within the city.
Until mid-2017 an initial reception center for asylum seekers is also to be built in Leipzig. For this purpose the Free State of Saxony has acquired premises in the Max-Liebermann-Straße.
If you wish to help asylum seekers and refugees, either as a volunteer or with a donation, you may contact the Leipzig Refugee Council:
Telephone: +49 (0) 341 9613872
Internet: www.fluechtlingsrat-lpz.org
The City of Leipzig provides information as well under the following website (in German): http://www.leipzig.de/fluechtlingshilfe
E-Mail: fluechtlingsinfo@leipzig.de
The decision is made by the Federal Office for Migration und Refugees (BAMF) after a hearing regarding the grounds for persecution. If the asylum seeker is granted asylum, then he/she will receive a residence permit for at least one to three years. An asylum procedure usually lasts several months.
Asylum seekers receive social benefits according to the Benefits Act for asylum seekers. In addition to a provided place in asylum seekers housing or an apartment, they obtain basic social benefits for food, clothing, personal hygiene and a basic living allowance. The benefits also include health services.
The social benefits are approximately equivalent to the social benefits in accordance with the Codes of Social Law SBG II ("Hartz 4") and SGB XII ("social assistance").
Schooling in Saxony is compulsory for the children of asylum seekers after they have left the initial reception center for asylum applicants.
More information can be found here: Schools and Education in Leipzig
The Free State of Saxony reimburses the municipalities with a lump sum for the expenses associated with taking in, housing and providing health care for asylum seekers. Up until 2011, the state reimbursed 4.500 Euros per person per year. This was increased to 6.000 Euros per person per year from 2012 until 2014. As of 2015 this will be increased again to 7.600 Euros per person per year.
In addition to this, funding is also allocated within the framework of fiscal transfers. All of these revenues combined still only partially cover the total expenses. The revenue-to-cost ratio based on the results of the annual financial statement was 55.96 percent for 2012 and 46.26 percent for 2013.