Germany: Village of 100 residents to host 750 refugees

The first 500 of an expected 750 refugees began to arrive in Sumte, a small northern German village with 102 inhabitants, Monday, after regional authorities gave the green light to house asylum seekers in a shelter in the village. The refugee shelter was organised by an aid and welfare organisation "Workers' Samaritan Federation" (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland' or 'ASB'). Some of the villagers have questioned the decision to accommodate 750 refugees in a settlement of just 102 residents, due to its limited infrastructure and restricted services. The village mayor Christian Fabel has said that the number was excessive, stating that 200 or 300 asylum seekers would have been more appropriate. Other villagers meanwhile have called for a special police unit to monitor the refugees. Local lawmaker Manfred Nahrstedt called for the creation of a special 24/7 manned police station in the nearby town of Neuhaus. The demands have been rejected by local authorities. One villager however said he was happy about the influx of refugees, stating "it can only be of benefit to the village and wider region: the more citizens, the better."