Berlin’s Tegel Airport reopens as emergency shelter for displaced refugees

A rushed two-hour setup transformed Terminal C into a lifeline for vulnerable refugees. Will this temporary fix ease Berlin’s housing crisis?

, and Administrator

2026 January 4 . 7:01 PM

1 min read

In the image there is a building, it looks like some hospital and in front of the building there... — In the image there is a building, it looks like some hospital and in front of the building there are few vehicles and trees and also a fencing.

Refugees Moved to Different Accommodation - Berlin’s Tegel Airport reopens as emergency shelter for displaced refugees

Emergency accommodations at Berlin’s former Tegel Airport have reopened ahead of schedule to house refugees displaced by a major power outage. The news facility, originally set to open on January 6, 2026, began operations early after around 200 people were relocated from southwest Berlin.

The temporary shelter in Terminal C was set up within just two hours on Saturday. Staff reported smooth operations despite the rushed preparation. Among the new arrivals are individuals needing special care, including ten people with high medical requirements—some reliant on ventilators.

The new setup replaces the former Notunterkunft, which closed on December 31, 2025. That facility, run by Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, and Malteser Hilfsdienst, had faced criticism for poor living conditions. Now, 500 temporary spots are available in Terminal C, with 200 already filled. No specific operator has been named for the current emergency accommodations. Meanwhile, a larger EU-standard reception center for 2,600 refugees remains under development at the site.

The early opening of Terminal C’s emergency shelter follows the shutdown of Tegel’s previous large-scale news facility. With 200 refugees already placed and 300 more spaces available, the site continues to serve as a key location for accommodation. The long-term reception center, once completed, will significantly expand capacity for new arrivals.