Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Berlin DRK Wärmebus Reports Record 1,872 Calls This Winter

The surge points to higher public alerts that strained cold-aid outreach.

Overview

  • The DRK’s end-of-season summary for November to March reports 1,872 calls to the Wärmebus, nearly double the 955 recorded the prior winter.
  • Teams operated nightly from 6 p.m. to midnight across Berlin and made 1,992 contacts with people seeking help.
  • Crews took 597 people to emergency shelters, including 185 women, offering low-threshold transport for those who accepted it.
  • Workers handed out 1,115 warming items such as clothing, sleeping bags, and sleeping mats, covering urgent needs on the street.
  • Volunteer units added vehicles and helped manage call volume on the coldest nights, and DRK director Catía Voßberg warned that severe cold is life-threatening for people living outside.