Welcome to the European country that takes 1,000 migrants A DAY - 15 times more than the UK

And more than 450,000 are due by the end of the year – more than in any other EU nation

 

JOHN ALEVROYIANNIS Welcome: Refugee medical centre in Bielefeld, Germany

David Cameron wants to send sniffer dogs to Calais and build more fences to stop refugees reaching Britain.
Many have travelled for weeks after fleeing their own war-torn countries, but the Prime Minister has vowed he will stop the “swarm” of asylum seekers getting through the Channel Tunnel.
But it is 500 miles away from No10 that the true “invasion” is being played out.
In Germany 1,000 asylum seekers are arriving every day, with the majority fleeing from Islamic State killers in Syria.
More than 450,000 are due by the end of the year – more than in any other EU country and 15 times higher than Britain.

JOHN ALEVROYIANNIS

Desperate for help: Refugee medical centre in Bielefeld, in Germany

So while Mr Cameron draws battle lines, how have the Germans solved a problem like migration?
By welcoming the refugees with open arms.
And today, a Sunday Mirror ­investigation reveals how schools, sports halls and even hotels have been taken over by the government to be used as ­emergency accommodation.
In one city a four-star luxury spa hotel has been turned into a camp.
But now, with services stretched to breaking point, Germans are calling on Britain to share the strain.

JOHN ALEVROYIANNIS

Safe at last: Romas Dragan,40, with daughter Dragana,16, and her daughter Nemanja, one, pictured at their flat in the Refugee centre in Bielefeld

Tabea Beer runs a refugee camp for 600 people at a former British military base in Detmold, north east Germany.
She said: “Why don’t the British want to protect people fleeing very difficult and dangerous situations in their own country?

JOHN ALEVROYIANNIS

Helping hands: Tea time at the refugee centre in Detmold, in Germany

“Just open your borders and let them in. We all have a responsibility to act.
“Certain countries in Europe are not pulling their weight helping refugees and Britain is one of them.

“Germany can’t take many more and if Europe doesn’t find a solution, there will be a humanitarian disaster.”

Learning again: Teacher Karin Schroeder teaches refugees at the refugee centre in Detmold, Germany

The Detmold camp alone costs the government £355,000 a month to run.
Each flat, once ­occupied by British soldiers, now sleeps 12 refugees – four in each bedroom – with a ­bathroom between them.
An army of volunteers arrives every day to deliver German lessons, run football sessions, hand out donated clothing and serve free meals.

Refugees can use the gym, play table tennis with new friends and chill out in the cafe.
Tabea said: “Sometimes it does feel like a holiday camp. We do our best to make them welcome.”
Student Sewar Omari, 20, arrived last week after fleeing Syria to avoid military service.

JOHN ALEVROYIANNIS

Helping home: The old army base that now is a refugee centre in Detmold

He and cousin Basel Omari, 22, dodged bullets from Turkish soldiers to cross the border at night. They then continued a perilous two-month perilous journey on foot across Europe.
Sewar said: “We heard from friends already in Germany that the people here would welcome us and look after us.
“It is an incredible feeling to arrive here and to finally be safe. Soon we will be transferred to an apartment. I can see my future now in Germany.”
So can 13-year-old Shakila Salahi, who fled Afghanistan with her ­osteopath dad Rahman, 39, mum Tayabe, 33, and brother Amir, 11, two months ago.
She said: “Afghanistan was bad and now I am happy because I am no longer scared.”
In nearby Bielefeld, Ahmad Kinj, 51, and his family are among the 1,165 new refugees given permanent accommodation in the city so far this year.

JOHN ALEVROYIANNIS

Finally safe: Ahmam Kinji, 51 with wife Hend,34, and daughters Alma, 4, left and Alissa,3 right, pictured at the flat the government supply for them in Bielefeld

Ahmad, his wife Hend, 34, and their ­daughters Almaa, four, and Alissa, three, fled Syria in 2011 when their home city of Latakia came under attack from ISIS.
They settled first in Abu Dhabi, but were deported last month when authorities refused to renew their visas.
Within 10 days of arriving in Germany, they were housed in a comfortable two-bedroom flat.
They have access to free medical care and receive about £800 every month to live off – about £200 more than they would get in Britain.
Mr Kinj, who had a well-paid job in public relations before fleeing Syria, said: “We lost everything, but the Germans have given us ­everything we need – a home, clothes, shoes, even toys and teddy bears for the ­children.
"We feel like we have arrived in paradise. Finally my family is safe.

JOHN ALEVROYIANNIS

Safe t play: Kindergarden at the Refugee centre in Bielefeld

“My daughters can go out and feed the ducks – we don’t have to worry about missiles anymore. We’ve been made to feel so welcome.”
In Bielefeld, each refugee costs the local authority £7,800 a year. This year the total bill for the city is expected to hit £14million.
Andreas Döding, the city’s head of the refugee services, said: “The cost is a real burden, but it is our duty to care for the refugees – these people need our help.”
Social worker Davor Karacic added: “Our schools are full, a doctor has just rung me to say they don’t have room for any more patients.
"I don’t know how many more refugees Germany can take. Why is the British government wasting money on putting up fences in Calais?
"They should be spending the money on helping the refugees.”

JOHN ALEVROYIANNIS

Feeling danger: Syrians left to right Rowan Hussaini, 20, Azad 20, Basel Omarri, 22, and Sewar Omarri, 20

But while most Germans are happy to help, a minority of right wing ­extremists want the borders closed.
Last year there were 203 racist attacks on refugee shelters, compared to 58 in 2013.
Already this year, the number has hit 150.
At Freital, East Germany, asylum seekers have been ­prisoners in the hotel where they have been housed as thugs outside shout abuse and threaten to torch the building.
In Bielefeld, where a former four-star Best Western hotel is a ­temporary accommodation for 500 refugees, ­security guards patrol the site.
Manager Michael Schäfers said: “In Bielefeld we haven’t had any attacks on shelters, but we are on high alert. I do worry about getting a Molotov cocktail through the window.”

JOHN ALEVROYIANNIS

Home from home: Tea time at the refugee centre in Detmold

When the £90-a-night hotel shut on July 31, with the loss of about 60 jobs, there was anger in the community at first.
But dozens of local people are now asking Mr Schäfers how they can help.
On Friday, as the first new arrivals checked-in, exhausted from weeks of travel, their eyes lit up when they heard about the en suite rooms.
The clean, white tiled bathrooms have modern showers and hair dryers.
Meals are eaten at chairs and tables previously used in the breakfast room and there is a constant supply of free hot drinks and biscuits in the bar.
All new arrivals are given a thorough medical examination before being shown to their room.

JOHN ALEVROYIANNIS

In a safe place: Shakila Salahi,13 with mother Tayabe,33 and dad Rahman, 39, at the refugee centre in Detmold

Latifa Jabore, 25, arrived after a two-month journey from Afghanistan with farmer husband Hussein, 30, and children Amir Ali, three, and Assal, five.
She said: “We wanted to go to England, but it is too difficult to get in. But we are happy now to be in Germany. The people are good to us.”
Ingo Schlotterbeck is from the non-profit organisation ASB, which is running the camp with government funding.
He said: “The minister of interior for this state told me they are having to cope with so many refugees that there is no system in place anymore.
“They are in chaos. He just told us the priority was to make sure refugees have food and somewhere safe to sleep.”
Many refugees arriving on Friday had been sleeping inside two sports halls at a school in the city.

JOHN ALEVROYIANNIS

Happy to help: Tea time at the refugee centre in Detmold

More than 13,000 have passed through the doors in the past six weeks. But as the new school term starts on Monday, they must move on.
Mr Schäfers said: “Germany is nearing its limit. Other countries have to start helping too.”
Germany has started showing TV ads in the Balkan states to put off “fake” asylum seekers.
This year, up to June 30, 28,672 Kosovans and 21,806 Albanians travelled to Germany claiming to be refugees. The ads warn them they will be deported.

JOHN ALEVROYIANNIS

Help for all: Washing machines at the refugee centre in Bielefeld

But Mr Schäfers said: “They don’t care. They still want to come because for a few months while their application is being processed they can claim money.”
Germany is trying to rush through a law to speed up deportation of refugees from these states.
When that happens, tens of thousands of economic migrants will likely divert to other European countries instead – including Britain.