“Welcome”, read the flyer from the City of Vienna given out to refugees arriving in the Austrian capital last September. “We have prepared for supporting you during your stay and as you continue your journey … We are doing our very best to organise assistance. You are safe.”
As Europe continues to be gripped by a migration crisis triggered by the impacts of war, Vienna’s response to the influx of people – as Jon Henley discusses in his piece on the city – was widely praised. Thousands of volunteers got involved in a collective response that included dozens of emergency shelters, a Refugee Coordination Centre, a hotline, dedicated mobile phone app and a special refugee ID card. But the refugees arriving in Europe’s cities have not had this reception everywhere.
This month, as part of our “refuge cities” series, Guardian reporters are visiting centres across Europe – from Gothenburg to Gdansk – to talk to city officials, residents and refugees and discover how different cities have responded to the migration crisis.
The impact of migration is certainly not an issue confined to Europe, however, and neither is the experience of it. Wherever you are in the world, if you have recently had to move to a new city due to economic, social, personal or safety reasons, please share your story with us and be part of the Guardian’s reporting on migration.
What has been the experience of moving? What challenges have you faced in your new city? How welcoming of migrants is your city, or how could it improve? Share your responses using the form below by Friday 29 April and a selection of stories will be featured on Guardian Cities.
