Berlin rampage: Coordination centre arranges support services

In order to be able to cope with the effects of a traumatic experience, those affected need fast, local and unbureaucratic help. The city of Bad Arolsen and the district have set up a coordination office to provide help.

17 June 2022

In order to be able to cope with the physical and psychological effects after a traumatic event such as the rampage in Berlin, victims and relatives need help - quickly, unbureaucratically and, above all, close to home. The city of Bad Arolsen, together with the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg, has set up a central coordination office. It mediates offers of help for victims - and can be reached by phone at 05691-801 205 or by e-mail at dominik.wohl@bad-arolsen.de.

Many victims need help - now and in the future
At the invitation of the Hessian Victims' Commissioner Prof. Dr. Daniela Birkenfeld, numerous support organisations sat down together at a table in Bad Arolsen on Wednesday. The goal: to bundle all offers in order to help those affected to cope with the terrible experience. "The rampage in Berlin injured many people, some of them very seriously, and one person was even fatally injured. Many of those affected need help - now and often in the long term. It is our task to coordinate this - hand in hand with the local partners on the ground," says Birkenfeld, who, as a representative of the Hessian state government, is permanently at the side of victims of serious acts of violence and terrorist attacks in order to guide them through the help system according to their needs.

The best possible long-term support
Because the traumatic experience often does not let go of those affected - especially in the first period. Anger, fear, despair, grief or sleeping problems can have a lasting effect on victims, survivors or eyewitnesses. Injured persons must also survive the physical consequences. Parents, friends or relatives can also suffer from the trauma.

This not only raises questions about the best possible medical therapy and psychological support, but also about measures under pension law, pension and compensation claims or possible testimony in court proceedings. All of this requires appropriate preparation and support - among other things, also in making the relevant applications or attending appointments.

The newly established coordination office in Bad Arolsen supports the work of the Hessian Victims' Commissioner on site. "People who have been affected in any way by the terrible event in Berlin can contact us," says Mayor Marko Lambion. "From the multitude of support options, we then arrange the appropriate offers in coordination with the Hessian Victims' Commissioner so that people feel they are in the best possible hands during this time, which is hard enough for them anyway."

Dominik Wohl, an employee of the city of Bad Arolsen, is available as a contact person for this purpose. He advises, mediates and establishes contacts - and can be reached on site at Bad Arolsen town hall from Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - by phone at 05691-801 205 or by e-mail at dominik.wohl@bad-arolsen.de. Personal counselling appointments are also possible.

 

Fast, unbureaucratic care close to home
"The most important thing for us is to provide people with fast, unbureaucratic care close to home," adds District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst. "Here on the ground, we have numerous support agencies to help us achieve this." Support:

  • the Waldeck-Frankenberg Police Directorate
  • the State Education Authority
  • the parishes
  • the accident insurance funds
  • the competent regional councils and pension offices
  • the Schön Klinik in Bad Arolsen
  • The White Ring
  • the Hessian Victim Support Associations

"But the threads have to come together in one place so that the help quickly reaches where it is needed. This happens in the new coordination centre. In addition, civil society support services also come together there," says van der Horst. In this context, attention is once again drawn to the campaign of the local Rotary Club Korbach-Bad Arolsen, which has set up a donation account for those affected:

Non-profit Association of the Friends of Rotary e.V.
IBAN: DE61 5235 0005 0000 1429 27
Sparkasse Waldeck-Frankenberg
BIC: HELADEF1KOR

Further information is also available online at www.bad-arolsen.de or www.justizministerium.hessen.de/Themen-A-Z/Opferschutz.

Background
Last week, a car drove into a crowd of people near the Berlin Memorial Church. Among the victims were pupils from Bad Arolsen who were in the capital for their graduation trip. A teacher was killed in the horrific incident. Some pupils were injured, some seriously.