Austria stops family reunification: What does that mean for refugees?

Austria stops family reunification: What does that mean for refugees?

Braunschweig, Deutschland - On Wednesday, the Council of Ministers in Austria decided to stop the family reunification for refugees. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) records his course and justifies the measure with an overload of the existing systems in the country. This regulation comes into force in a few days after the decision of the main committee. Karner emphasizes that applications for family reunification can be brought in, but will only be treated in exceptional cases in the coming six months. In particular, the follow -up is difficult for young people who have no suitable supervisors on site.

The ministerial step has far -reaching consequences, since in May only 70 entry under the title Family Coachation were registered. Many of these applications, especially Syrian refugees, are exposed to the change of power in Damascus. This means that many family members have to remain separated from each other for long periods of time, which brings with them both social and psychological consequences. For example, Abdulaziz Hesso, a Syrian who lives with his daughter Youlia in Germany, reports about the uncertainty in his family through the planned suspension of family reunification.

psychological stress due to separations

The separation of relatives is not only an emotional burden, but can also severely affect the mental health of those affected. Studies show that post -migratory stresses such as social isolation and discrimination increase the risk of mental illnesses, especially in people with existing trauma disorders. In addition to the living situation, the stress factors in Germany also include long waiting times during the asylum procedure, which are often associated with anxiety disorders and depression

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Families who live in collective accommodation report missing retreat for their children, which reinforces the already difficult situation. In addition, the limited availability of social support and access to health services means an additional challenge for many refugees. A discrimination experience, structural racism and lack of language mediation also often lead to misdiagnoses and chronification of diseases.

Refugee policy in the EU

At the European level, the topic of family reunification is intensively discussed. In Germany, the Bundestag is about to decide on a draft law that could have a significant impact on the right to family reunification for many refugees with limited protection status. According to estimates, around 381,000 people with subsidiary protection status in Germany lived at the end of 2024, with around 12,000 visas for family reunification being granted. The new regulation could lead to thousands of family members remain separated from each other, which in turn increases the stress for the people concerned.

It can be seen that the selection of protective claims and the migration policy control in Germany and Austria are closely linked. Organizations such as Caritas and Diakonie warn of the psychological stress that such separations can bring, especially for children. The debate about family reunification illustrates the tensions between individual humanitarian support and political decisions, which are often part of further migration policy strategies.