European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 24, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Barge occupants gaze from their floating Home toward the More typical residences of Mainz Germany. Alka boat people some War refugees and Asylum seekers Are being housed on Rhine River barges by Dave Casey staff writer like most refugees seeking Asylum in Germany Mustafa Gene walks a gangplank Ever time he leaves Home. For the past two months he and his family have been living on a specially built Barge tethered to the shores of the Rhine River in Mainz. The background of Gene s unusual abode lies in the aftermath of the end of the cold War. The disintegration of the East bloc brought two problems to the newly unified Germany. What to do with a the massive influx of refugees and b the surplus military equipment from the old East German government. The German state of Rheinland Pfalz was Able to address both problems by hiring a polish ship building company to renovate former East German barges and then using them to House the overflow of refugees. According to doctor brute Schober a German red Cross social worker at the refugee Barge the shelter is designed to House 160 people on three floors us decks in 62 rooms. The average stay Here is one to four months she said. None of the residents seem particularly pleased with their accommodations but at least they have a roof Over their Heads and three squares a Day. We always keep families together in the same room and we try to match single people with compatible roommates Schober said. The compatibility test is primarily based on nationality and religion Touchy subjects when you have refugees from different sides of a War. Most of our current residents Are coming from the former Yugoslavia and they Are not really Asylum seekers but rather War refugees Schober said. In addition to sexes we try to match singles with others of the same nationality. A lot of times one of them will speak some German and they can act As communication however remains the biggest hurdle. I speak a Little russian English French persian and a Little turkish and arabic but it s not enough. We currently have around 15 nationalities represented Here but we be had As Many As 25. Sometimes i m really surprised at How Well they get the refugees Are not All that thrilled about life on the Rhine Schober said. Everyone wants to move off to a place where they can do their own breakfast and supper Are cooked on Board by a Kitchen staff but lunch is brought in. Since Many of our residents Are Muslim they Are quite concerned about our menu when they arrive they All think germans eat nothing but pork. But we Are Well aware of most of their dietary restrictions and we never serve Cardigan Shala an electronic technician Back Home in Bosnia is one of the refugees trying to make the most of the situation. His room is nicknamed the disco by the other residents and aptly so. I take broken equipment that the germans Are throwing out and i am usually Able to fix them. Of course i usually Don t have Access to the schematic but if i can t fix something i can always use the parts for something he complains about not having enough space for his projects. However for the time being like the other residents of the Barge he s willing to put up with daily walks Over the gangplank As he starts his new life. Kurdish refugee Mustafa Gene takes a walk with his daughter Vartosh and son Sayde. The Barge was refurbished by a polish firm to House refugees. under the gaze of his Mother Jumnije is introduced to a new tradition the Christmas tree. The famil like 90 percent of those aboard the Barge Are muslims. Above Sylveta Gor vedic and her husband fled the Balkan War with their children Der left and Emil. Left brute Schober a German red Cross social worker checks a refugee onto the Barge. About 160 people live on the Rhine River vessel. Bosnian born Cardigan Shala works in his Cabin which his fellow boat dwellers have nicknamed the disco � a photos by Dave Casey 16 the stars and stripes monday january 24, 1994 the stars and stripes 17
