Berlin's Social Services office is where refugees'dreams of a new life in Germany are often first confronted with reality.

Huge tents have been erected to process the migrants.

Afghan refugee Khaudnazar has been waiting since 8 o'clock in the morning.

Each time he gets to the front of the line, he says he is told to come back tomorrow.

“Morning I come to in here, going to office, and here is take the turn at the counter tomorrow. I having coming to here tomorrow, all they speak, next time come tomorrow.”

The chaos at the center-known by its German acronym LaGeSo-has been going on for months.

Many of these people say they've been coming here everyday for several weeks just try to get an appointment with the social services but the numbers appear to be overwhelming local authorities.

Afghan teenager Mohamed says he has been here 24 days with no help, and no money.

Teams of local helpers distribute warm drinks and food.

Public donations of clothing arrive by the hour, to be sorted by volunteer refugees and locals.

“It's winter time in Germany now,and we still have people arriving without shoes, babies without shoes and jackets or gloves.”

Kur Kettler accuses the German government of failing in its duty to care for the refugees.

“Germany cannot take all of the people, obviously,but we have the financial power, I mean the European Union has it. They should be a little bit more flexible and in these crises they have to be a lot quicker.”

There is disillusionment among some refugees but others praise the help they have received.

Germany is the number one country for millions of migrants but those numbers are threatening to cripple the systems designed to provide the most basic care.