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| German town bans New Year fireworks near migrant shelters | German town bans New Year fireworks near migrant shelters |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The German town of Arnsberg has banned the use of New Year fireworks around its migrant and refugees shelters to avoid the bangs triggering traumatic flashbacks. | The German town of Arnsberg has banned the use of New Year fireworks around its migrant and refugees shelters to avoid the bangs triggering traumatic flashbacks. |
| Psychiatrists say the sounds of the fireworks could provoke extreme stress among those who have fled war zones. | Psychiatrists say the sounds of the fireworks could provoke extreme stress among those who have fled war zones. |
| The town, in North Rhine-Westphalia, also banned sales to shelter residents. | The town, in North Rhine-Westphalia, also banned sales to shelter residents. |
| In other parts of the country, migrants have been notified about the likelihood of fireworks during the night. | In other parts of the country, migrants have been notified about the likelihood of fireworks during the night. |
| Amateur firework displays are popular in Germany and small, hand-held rockets are often set off in residential areas. | Amateur firework displays are popular in Germany and small, hand-held rockets are often set off in residential areas. |
| "Those who have fled war-torn areas associate the bangs more with gunshots and bombs than with New Year," Christian Soebbeler, a spokesman for Arnsberg town, told newspaper Deutsche Welle. | "Those who have fled war-torn areas associate the bangs more with gunshots and bombs than with New Year," Christian Soebbeler, a spokesman for Arnsberg town, told newspaper Deutsche Welle. |
| According to a report published in September by Germany's Federal Psychotherapy Chamber, 40% to 50% of migrants or refugees in Germany suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression. | According to a report published in September by Germany's Federal Psychotherapy Chamber, 40% to 50% of migrants or refugees in Germany suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression. |
| Dr Joachim Bauer, a psychotherapist from the University Medical Centre in Freiburg, told Deutsche Welle that for those suffering from PTSD, the sound of fireworks could cause anxiety, panic and shock. | Dr Joachim Bauer, a psychotherapist from the University Medical Centre in Freiburg, told Deutsche Welle that for those suffering from PTSD, the sound of fireworks could cause anxiety, panic and shock. |
| "For this reason it seems sensible to prohibit the customary New Year's fireworks in refugee shelters and the surrounding areas," he said. | "For this reason it seems sensible to prohibit the customary New Year's fireworks in refugee shelters and the surrounding areas," he said. |
| Germany has accepted more refugees than any other European nation. More than one million new asylum-seekers registered in the country in 2015. | |
| Meanwhile, German supermarket chain Aldi Sued has faced criticism for offering a New Year's Eve fireworks set branded "Paris", little more than a month after the jihadist attacks in the French capital that claimed 130 lives. | |
| German media and Twitter users said the product was in poor taste. But a spokesman for the company said the product was manufactured in February, well before the attacks. |