SHARE
COPY LINK

WEATHER

Charity appeals for seasonal help for homeless in the heat

Homeless people are having difficulty coping in the heat, with organisations helping them appealing for donations of summer clothing, sandals and sun cream.

Charity appeals for seasonal help for homeless in the heat
Photo: DPA

Dieter Puhl, head of the Bahnhofsmission at Berlin’s Zoo station called for people to help out with donations to help homeless people during the current hot weather, pointing out that living rough is not only difficult in the winter.

He made an appeal for summer clothing, sandals and drinks, prompting a generous response from people in the city, he said. “Berliners are simply great,” he said, referring to 300 donations which were made in the first 24 hours of the appeal.

Around 10,000 people live on the capital’s streets, many of whom are not kitted out for health living in the summer. Many are still walking around with winter boots, heavy socks, jumpers and jeans – in temperatures which have been well over 30 degrees Celsius for weeks.

“No-one thinks of the fact that homeless people need summer clothing too,” said Puhl.

He said some had already collapsed in the heat, while others have suffered serious sunburn. “We urgently need sun screen,” he said.

Drinks are also needed, he added. There are only few opportunities to drink water for free in the city, with drinking fountains rare and most public toilets charging for use.

The most useful drinks are mineral water or the Turkish yoghurt drink Ayran, he said, as they also contain important minerals necessary for health. “Many of the people who come here are not in the best of health to begin with,” he said.

The mission at the station is open three times a day, offering meals to the homeless, as well as passing on other donations such as a crate of plastic sandals, which he said had recently been donated by a hospital.

One woman showed up this week with her car packed with apple juice, milk, sugar and sandals – she said she had heard the appeal for help for the homeless in the heat and decided to do what she could.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

BERLIN

Disruption on roads in Berlin as farmers stage fresh protest

Farmers in Germany launched fresh protests in Berlin on Friday to call for the government to support agriculture, resulting in disruption across the city.

Disruption on roads in Berlin as farmers stage fresh protest

Berlin police said there were “considerable traffic disruptions” across the city and the outskirts and especially around Straße des 17. Juni, the government district and the Bundesrat .

Since Thursday morning, Straße des 17. Juni and other streets around the government district in Berlin-Tiergarten have been closed. There will also be closures on Leipziger Straße between Wilhelmstraße and Leipziger Platz through Friday.

A planned rally is due to take place from 12 noon to 5pm on Friday with tractors and lorries around Platz des 18. März, near Brandenburg Gate. 

The action is being held to protest the government’s agricultural policies.

It comes as relief measures – including reduced bureaucracy and tax relief for farmers – went to the Bundesrat on Friday to be voted on as part of the Growth Opportunities Act.

However, farmers are still pushing for their original demand of fully keeping the agricultural diesel subsidy.

READ ALSO: Analysis: Why are German farmers so angry?

Farmers in Germany have been staging similar protests against the policies of the government since the start of the year.

Where are protests taking place?

Here’s a look at the routes farmers are expected to take in Friday into Berlin where disruption will occur:

Frohnau: From the state border via B96 Berliner Straße, Roedernallee, Lindauer Allee, Residenzstraße, Markstraße, Schulstraße, Luxemburger Straße, Föhrer Straße, An der Putlitzbrücke, Stromstraße, Lessingstraße, Altonaer Straße and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni

Lichtenrade: From the state border via the B96 Kirchhainer Damm to Tempelhofer Damm and then via Mehringdamm, Hallesches Ufer, Reichpietschufer, Klingelhöferstraße, Hofjägerallee and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni

Mahlsdorf: From the state border via the B1/5 to Alexanderstraße and then via Karl-Liebknecht-Straße, Unter den Linden, Wilhelmstraße, Dorotheenstraße, Scheidemannstraße, John-Foster-Dulles-Allee, Spreeweg and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni

Staaken: From the state border via B5 Heerstraße to Theodor-Heuss-Platz, Kaiserdamm, Ernst-Reuter-Platz, Straße des 17. Juni and Großer Stern to Straße des 17. Juni.

As we’ve already. mentioned, there will also be road closures on Leipziger Straße between Wilhelmstraße and Leipziger Platz.

Farmers at the Straße des 17. Juni early morning on Friday in Berlin in a demo for better agricultural policy.

Farmers at the Straße des 17. Juni early morning on Friday in Berlin in a demo for better agricultural policy. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Jörg Carstensen

A large police presence was in place around the federal ministries and parliamentary buildings.

“We are taking preparatory measures before the farmers’ rally so that parliamentary work can take place smoothly on Friday,” said a spokesperson for the Berlin police on Thursday. 

During previous demonstrations, tactics – such as throwing manure and blockade attempts – have been controversial. 

On one occasion in January more than a hundred farmers blocked a ferry port as Economics Minister Robert Habeck tried to return from a holiday with his wife on the North Friesian island of Hooge.

According to media reports, some of the protestors tried to storm the ferry that the Habeck and his wife were on, preventing the Green Party politician from disembarking and forcing police to intervene. 

SHOW COMMENTS