According to the latest forecast by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees from August 20, 2015, the NST expects 800,000 people to apply for asylum nationwide in 2015.

For Lower Saxony, this means that 75,000 applications for asylum can be expected across the state. This would be more than four times as many as in 2014, but even these figures could already be outdated due to current developments, according to the NST.

The President of the NST, Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel, emphasizes: "The municipalities of Lower Saxony are aware of their obligation towards people fleeing violence and persecution. However, in order to continue to take in and care for refugees appropriately, the municipalities require considerable additional support from the federal and state governments."

The NST is certain that rapid and short-term measures are required to prevent a refugee emergency. For this reason, the Executive Committee of the Association of Cities and Towns of Lower Saxony adopted corresponding "Demands to avoid a refugee emergency - extraordinary situations require extraordinary measures" at its 216th meeting in Varel on September 9, 2015."

These can be viewed below on the NST website.