Covid-19 pandemic leads to 23% drop in asylum requests
The increase in the number of asylum requests from Eritreans is due to family reunions and new births.
Keystone/Alessandro Della Bella
The number of asylum requests in Switzerland fell by almost a quarter (23%) to 11,041 people last year, annual statistics reported on Monday have revealed.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/urs
Português
pt
Pandemia provoca queda de 23% nos requerimentos de asilo
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) said the decline was due to the coronavirus pandemic and resulting travel restrictions.
Most of the asylum requests recorded last year were from Eritrean citizens (1,917), followed by people from Afghanistan, Algeria and Syria, according to a statementExternal link released on Monday.
The list of the countries of origin is similar to Swiss statistics from previous years.
The increase in the number of Eritrean nationals is largely the result of births and family reunions, the SEM said.
In 2020, the Swiss asylum authorities processed more than 17,220 requests (some cases referred to applications filed in previous years). This reduced the overall backlog to 3,852 cases – the lowest level since 1994, the SEM said.
In total, 5,409 people – or a third of all requests – were granted asylum status in Switzerland in 2020.
The number of rejected asylum seekers who left Switzerland voluntarily dropped to 1,051 last year, down by more than 600 compared with the previous year.
Another 745 people were deported, mainly to one of the other 31 member states which signed the Dublin agreement or to their country of origin.
For 2021, the SEM expects around 15,000 asylum applications.
More
More
Covid results in fewer asylum seekers – for now
This content was published on
The head of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), Mario Gattiker, told the newspaper BlickExternal link on Monday that the drop in applications had saved his office CHF160 million ($181 million) last year. Many countries, including Switzerland, shut down or tightened their borders in 2020 to try and contain the spread of the virus. Transport…
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Asylum seeker requests in Switzerland hit 12-year low
This content was published on
Most asylum seekers (2,899) came from Eritrea, with Afghanistan (1,397), Turkey (1,287) and Syria (1,100) also featuring prominently among applicants. In March of last year, Switzerland introduced new laws dealing with asylum seekers, speeding up the majority of requests from 400 days to 140 days. Most of the simpler asylum cases are now dealt with…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.