Providing emergency shelter

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Refugees from Syria arrive at the new asylum centre at Schafhausen im Emmental in canton Bern Keystone

At Schafhausen im Emmental an old school house has welcomed asylum-seekers since October 2014 Keystone

An old army barracks in Losone, canton Ticino, houses 130 people Keystone

Asylum-seekers take a break at the Losone centre in canton Ticino Keystone

Around 70 people are living in a military bunker on the Lukmanier Pass, located at 1,915m on the Graubünden-Ticino border Keystone

Families of refugees live at the Seeben guesthouse in Nesslau-Krummenau in St Gallen Keystone

The Seeben guesthouse at Nesslau-Krummenau in canton St Gallen Keystone

Morad Essa, an Eritrean asylum-seeker, has been living with the Christen family in Lully, canton Vaud, since April 2015. The family was the first to participate in the Swiss Refugee Council's scheme to house asylum-seekers in private homes Keystone

Since 2015, army tents have been used as temporary asylum accommodation in canton Aargau Keystone

A Libyan asylum-seeker prepares a meal in the Wünnewil underground civil protection shelter in canton Fribourg Keystone

The former Hirschpark nursing home in Lucerne has been welcoming asylum-seekers since 2014 Keystone

The entrance to the Dagmersellen underground civil protection shelter in canton Lucerne Keystone

Inside the recreation room of the Wünnewil underground civil protection shelter in canton Fribourg Keystone

An old fire station in Bern has been converted into accommodation for 150 asylum seekers Keystone

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The Swiss authorities are coming up with unconventional solutions in their struggle to find suitable accommodation to house an increasing number of asylum seekers. 

Local resistance and a dearth of suitable accommodation, means housing for asylum-seekers remains a challenge. In order to put up new arrivals for short periods, the cantons and communes have resorted to providing a wide range of unusual properties such as underground military bunkers, converted shipping containers, army tents, hospitals, an old fire station and even a country mansion. 

Swiss migration officials anticipate 29,000 asylum applicants for 2015, an increase on recent years but below peaks of the 1990s. However, the State Secretariat for Migration recently warned the 26 cantons they might have to accommodate more arrivals. Up to 1,150 people a week could be placed with the cantons, the federal authorities say – a 15% increase. 

Switzerland has pledged to participate in a European Union programme to relocate refugees fleeing the four-year conflict in Syria. In a first step, Switzerland will accept 1,500 refugees on condition they are registered as asylum seekers in neighbouring Italy or in Greece. The government is also willing to consider up to 5,000 additional refugees over the next two years. (Photos: Keystone)