Switzerland insists on passports for earthquake refugees

Millions of people have been left displaced by the earthquake in Turkey. Bernat Armangue

Refugees from Turkey or Syria must carry identifying documents if they are seeking shelter in Switzerland from the devastation of last week’s earthquake.

More than 40,000 people were killed by a massive earthquake near to the border of Turkey and Syria. Millions are now displaced, many without shelter in freezing conditions, according to the United Nations Refugees Agency.

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Switzerland has agreed to speed up the issuance of visas for Turkish and Syrian refugees. Some parliamentarians believe Switzerland should work even faster to provide refuge for earthquake victims.

The foreign affairs committee of the House of Representatives has written to migration officials calling for other bureaucratic hurdles to be dismantled, including the need to present passports.

But in the interests of security, the authorities have drawn the line at accepting people who have no passport or other identity documents.

“We comply with the applicable law, which dictates that we must identify these people. The issue of security is particularly important here,” a State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) spokesperson told Swiss public broadcaster SRF.

SEM also pointed out that it would be difficult for people to leave Turkey or Syria without a passport.

Cassis comment

Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis specified that Switzerland would be willing to take in Turkish earthquake victims without valid travel documents.

But he said that the Turkish authorities would only allow its citizens to leave the country if they have a valid passport or an identity card.

By Thursday, Switzerland had received 1,200 requests for a visa under the accelerated process.