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"Tent cities" for asylum seekers "last option": Austrian interior minister

Xinhua, May 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Austrian Minister of the Interior Johanna Mikl-Leitner stood by her ministry's decision to erect a number of so-called "tent cities" to cater for a large increase in the number of asylum applications.

During a crisis summit involving various ministers, local government authorities, aid organizations and church representatives on Friday, Mikl-Leitner spoke of an "explosion-like increase" in asylum seeker numbers, reaching about 300 each day since Monday.

She said the "tent cities" proposal, which have come under fire from numerous parties, is a "last option in protecting against homelessness."

In response, Red Cross Secretary General Werner Kerzbaum was not pleased with the decision, saying "for us this is the worst possible outcome." He said that as one of the wealthiest nations in the world Austria should not have to put refugees in tents.

He said the Red Cross would support the Interior Ministry, however, as a "humanitarian obligation."

Klaus Schwertner, Secretary General of Catholic charity Caritas, echoed similar sentiments, saying Austria has enough places for asylum seekers, and that conflicts such as that in Syria "did not begin yesterday."

Both Kerzbaum and Schwertner called for alternative solutions to be implemented going forward.

Local media reported that one of the tent cities has already completed as of Friday on a sports field in the city of Salzburg.

The Interior Ministry is planning at least two more of the tent cities, with one confirmed to be planned for St. Georgen im Attergau in the state of Upper Austria. It stated the cities will meet the standards of the United Nations Refugee Agency, and that refugees will stay for as short a time as possible. Enditem