Stadium in Vienna

Ferry Dusika Stadium in Vienna has recently been turned into a refugee centre for those seeking asylum in Austria.

About 320 people, mainly Afghans, Iranians and Syrians, have been there for the last few months - down from an overcrowded 750 several weeks ago. There are two halls, one for single men and one for families and the elderly.

Conditions seemed okay with heating, food and medical support. An Austrian medical volunteer we met was frustrated with the delays however. "These people have been here for months and by law they should already have a proper house and a health insurance card. The bureaucracy is overwhelmed and too slow".

We met Abu Tahir outside as he received the back pay of his monthly allowance, which we think is €40 per month - known as the joker of the camp he was pretending to give his money away and said he was off to buy cigars. The reality however is that although the refugees are free to leave the stadium they can't afford to, with many referring to the €103 fine that some had received for taking public transport without a ticket - which one person described as the "death penalty" before quickly correcting himself to say "penalty fare".