The camp at Seelower Straße Müchenberg is a four-floor building run by International Bund. This company is the largest player in the Lager business in Brandenburg. From the outside it looks well-kept with bright paintings. From the inside it is like every other camp not caring about the residents but the profits. The refugees are sharing small spaces. The only three showers for the women are on the first floor, this means every woman including those with children have to move up and down to access the shower. The three shower cabins are separated by a transparent plastic, so it is not possible for women to have privacy while showering.

The only three showers for the women are on the first floor, this means every woman including those with children have to move up and down to access the shower. The three shower cabins are separated by a transparent plastic, so it is not possible for women to have privacy while showering. There is no rubbish bin, only a small plastic bag hanged at the door and all the men go to the ground floor for their showers.

The two cookers in a small room are shared by more than 20 people, some of whom have families, that means waiting until your neighbours finish cooking because the kitchen is only enough for two people at a time. One woman who is already depressed with the accommodation situation; is living in a small room with her five month old baby. The room is enough only for her single bed, the baby cot and a cupboard. This leaves only a small space in between to move from one corner to the other. For her to access the kitchen and bathroom, she has to go through several doors like the rest of the residents. These doors are closed and everyone has to keep on opening them including women and children from other floors who come to the first floor to shower.

There is no concept of hygiene rules in relation to the Covid-19, a virus which is on the rise again. Just some simple notes explain that hands should be washed between 20-30 seconds. She is constantly worried about what is to become of her and her baby despite of her being a young, energetic and educated woman.

In our campaign “#social distancing is a privilege”; we made it very clear what it means to live in a camp during the corona virus pandemic. It is a pity that the authorities have not seen the need at least to improve the refugees living conditions especially the vulnerable groups with a long aim of closing camps completely.