Switzerland scrabbles for refugee housing after funds rejected
Switzerland is struggling to house an increasing number of asylum seekers and refugees.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved
The Swiss army and 26 cantons have been asked to find extra accommodation space for 3,000 refugees after parliament refused to approve federal funds to alleviate logjams.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/mga
A special federal task force on asylum has called for the temporary beds to be made available between this September and February 2024.
More
More
Why asylum in Switzerland remains elusive for Afghan refugees
This content was published on
Despite the deteriorating human rights situation under the Taliban, the Swiss continue to resist calls to facilitate entry and protection for Afghans.
Cantons that accept at least 5% of new asylum seekers are asked to provide 200 extra spaces, while those that take in 3-5% are expected to nominate 150 spaces. Cantons that account for less than 1% of asylum seekers need to find 100 spaces.
The new accommodation will be rented by the federal migration authorities, according to the plan announced on Friday.
The army, which as so far provided 3,800 spaces for asylum seekers, will also be asked to chip in to house the thousands of refugees expected to arrive in Switzerland.
Last year Switzerland registered 24,500 asylum-seekers, a 64% increase from the previous year. This excludes some 75,000 Ukrainian refugees, who received a special protection status through an accelerated registration process.
Refugee numbers this year are forecast to most likely reach 27,000 this year but could rise to 40,000 depending on geopolitical developments.
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
In Switzerland, New Year brings ‘burqa ban’ and pension hikes
Have you heard something about Swiss diplomacy that you’d like us to fact check?
Not all information circulating about Switzerland’s foreign relations is accurate or well understood. Tell us what you'd like us to fact check or clarify.
Swiss scientists discover unusual zones in Earth’s mantle
This content was published on
Using high-resolution models to study the Earth's mantle, scientists have identified zones of rocks in the lower mantle that are colder, or have a different composition, than surrounding rocks.
Egyptian diplomat’s murder: prosecutor calls for acquittal of defendant’s girlfriend
This content was published on
The Swiss attorney general has called for the girlfriend of the main defendant in the case of the assassination of an Egyptian diplomat in Geneva in 1995 to be acquitted. The woman is charged with complicity.
Low-cost e-tailers Temu and Shein put Swiss retail sector under pressure
This content was published on
Most Swiss retailers are concerned by the stiff competition from China's low-cost online platforms Temu and Shein, according to a survey.
This content was published on
More and more offices are standing empty in Switzerland's major cities. Nevertheless, new office constructions are likely to increase in the future, a study shows.
Zoos should consider culling surplus animals to regulate populations, say researchers
This content was published on
Researchers from the University of Zurich say zoos must rethink population management and allow animals to reproduce naturally - zoos should then cull surplus animals.
Swiss billionaire Martin Haefner creates foundation
This content was published on
Martin Haefner, owner of the car importer Amag and one of Switzerland's richest citizens, has set up a foundation with his wife Marianne.
Swiss army cuts uniform distribution to save millions
This content was published on
Members of the Swiss Armed Forces will only receive a distinctive grey dress uniform, the famous "Tenü A", for representational purposes in the future as a cost-cutting measure to save CHF55 million.
Swiss, Danish tourists among three dead in Australian plane crash
This content was published on
A light aircraft crashed during take-off from a tourist island in Western Australia, killing three people including Swiss and Danish tourists and injuring three others, authorities said on Wednesday.
Presidents of Ukraine and Switzerland discuss future meeting
This content was published on
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Swiss counterpart, Karin Keller-Sutter, have held talks by phone to prepare a future bilateral meeting, it was announced on Wednesday.
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
Swiss government plans more accommodation for asylum seekers
This content was published on
The Swiss government has asked parliament to set aside CHF132.9 million ($155 million) to create additional accommodation for asylum seekers.
Parliament again rejects extra funding for refugee housing
This content was published on
The Senate has for a third time rejected extra funding to build housing for the mounting number of refugees in Switzerland.
Swiss asylum requests expected to remain high in 2023
This content was published on
The head of the State Secretariat for Migration says that the economic consequences of the Ukraine war are expected to keep asylum requests high.
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.