The initial reception facilities for refugees in Saxony are currently only operating at around half capacity. Of the 5,073 places in Leipzig, Chemnitz and Dresden, only around 2,500 were occupied in mid-December, according to the state directorate. The majority of the residents were asylum seekers, while around 250 people from Ukraine were also accommodated in the facilities.
If the number of refugees increases again, Saxony could activate 1,590 additional places in the short term. This means that capacities are significantly lower than in 2023, when 9,192 places were available - partly through "condensed occupancy" in the existing accommodation facilities, partly in emergency accommodation and tents.
"Thanks to the lower number of arrivals, we were able to adjust our capacities in the reception facilities, give up tent locations and, in particular, take temporary emergency accommodation out of operation for the time being," explained Valerie Eckl, spokesperson for the state directorate. If necessary, however, we can react quickly.
