The Ortenau district between the Rhine and the Black Forest wants to issue the first payment cards for refugees from this Tuesday. “We didn’t want to wait, we wanted to get started,” said Alexandra Roth, head of the migration department, to the German Press Agency in Offenburg. According to its own information, the district with over 430,000 people is a pioneer in the southwest with this innovation.
Contrary to what is occasionally called for in the federal political debate, there are no conditions attached to the card. “At the moment the card functions as a cash replacement,” reported Roth. Refugees can therefore use their debit card to pay in retail stores and withdraw money from ATMs.
“We do this for ourselves as a district,” said Roth. “We have kept all options open. If there are certain requirements from the federal and state governments, the map can be adjusted at any time.” According to the district, maps of this type are also available in the major cities of Hanover and Leipzig.
Notice Ortenaukreis, January 10th
