The biggest hall at Interpack site Messe Dusseldorf has been converted into a temporary accommodation centre for Ukrainian war babies fleeing Vladimir Putin’s murderous invasion of their country.
The 25,000sqm hall usually has packaging, processing and filling equipment from one side to the other during Interpack. Now it is host to 1000 cots with babies in them, and their mothers.
Together with Messe, the German Red Cross and the Düsseldorf Fire Department have set up the accommodation, with some 2,500 meters of partition walls erected to divide the hall into smaller rooms.
Hall 6 has its own changing rooms and 40 shower places. Capacity is supplemented by external shower containers. Catering is being provided by Stockheim, Messe Düsseldorf's catering partner. All refugees will also have access to free WiFi, which will enable them to keep in touch with family and friends, and to find out about developments in Ukraine.
Wolfram Diener, president & CEO of Messe Düsseldorf: "We were very happy to accommodate the request from the Office for Migration and Integration of the City of Düsseldorf. On the day of construction, a large number of colleagues spontaneously lent a hand to make the accommodation possible as quickly as possible. Because we are moved by the fate of the people. And because we are deeply moved by the plight of the refugees. Receiving and accommodating them is a matter of course for us."
