There will be an initial drop-in center in Hall 1 on the Frankfurt exhibition grounds, where everything necessary will be provided until the people can be placed in longer-term accommodation throughout Hesse. A corresponding agreement with the city was concluded at short notice.

"The people fleeing to us from Ukraine need our help. They must be able to trust that our expressions of solidarity are not just lip service," says Peter Feldmann, Lord Mayor of the City of Frankfurt. "That is why the first aid center that we are setting up at our trade fair in the short term is so important. Frankfurt is a cosmopolitan city that has become a second home for many refugees throughout its history. Let's show the people from Ukraine that they are welcome here." The emergency accommodation will initially be set up in Hall 1.1 and can also be extended to the second level, Hall 1.2, if required.

"I am delighted that the state has taken up my suggestion to manage the distribution of people in Hesse from Frankfurt and has given us the corresponding deployment order," says Frankfurt's Head of Social Affairs Elke Voitl. "This saves the refugees from having to travel further after the strenuous journey. In our experience so far, most people arrive here traumatized, very exhausted and often hungry," says the city councillor. "Around half of those seeking protection are children and young people. It is particularly important for them to have a protected and safe place to breathe again quickly. We want to create this here in Frankfurt with the exhibition center near the main train station together with all our forces," says Elke Voitl.

The accommodation is operated by the German Red Cross (DRK) and the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB). Messe Frankfurt is responsible for the construction and other services within the accommodation.

"We have quickly and unbureaucratically created emergency accommodation on our exhibition grounds in Hall 1, as help is needed immediately," says Uwe Behm, the member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt responsible for the exhibition grounds. "This has become an initial point of contact or stopover to provide people who have had to flee Ukraine with everything they need until they can be placed in longer-term accommodation."

Messe Frankfurt excludes exhibitors from Russia and Belarus

Messe Frankfurt also announced that, in view of the dramatic situation in Ukraine, it had decided not to admit Russian exhibitors or exhibitors from Belarus to its trade fairs until further notice. This applies to all countries of the Messe Frankfurt Group that have joined the sanctions.

In addition, Messe Frankfurt is also suspending all visitor marketing activities in Russia and Belarus until further notice. Messe Frankfurt had already previously decided to suspend its events in Russia until further notice.