Switzerland Today

Hello, Swiss Abroad,

With globalisation and mass tourism, bedbugs are causing a stir in major European cities. Last year, Paris experienced a genuine panic over the issue.

In canton Geneva, bedbugs have become a serious problem in hostels, which are often run-down and difficult places to find these unwelcome pests.

For now, the authorities do not consider bedbugs a public health concern, as they do not transmit diseases. However, these bed-invading insects can have significant consequences for mental health.

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As the head of United Nations Relief and Works Agency, Philippe Lazzarini is the highest-ranking Swiss in the United Nations. © Keystone / Salvatore Di Nolfi

UNRWA head barred from Israel and Gaza

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini of Switzerland, is no longer permitted to visit Israel or the Gaza Strip. According to reports from Tamedia newspapers, Lazzarini has been denied access to Palestinian territories three times, and his Israeli visa has not been renewed.

“This is part of a strategy to silence not only UNRWA but all those committed to a lasting and just political solution,” says Lazzarini. The leader of the main humanitarian aid agency in Gaza last visited Israel in May, and since then, the Israeli government has refused to extend his diplomatic visa or allow him entry into Gaza.

“UNRWA has not succeeded in preventing the infiltration of terrorists into its ranks or the use of its facilities by armed groups,” stated Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for granting residence permits. The Ministry declined to comment further on its decision to block Lazzarini’s entry.

Lazzarini is not the only UN official facing travel restrictions in the region. In December, Israel refused to extend the visa of UN humanitarian coordinator Lynn Hastings, accusing her of bias. Last month, Andrea De Domenico, a senior official from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), was also denied entry.

• Der BundExternal link article in German, subscription required

Keystone-SDA

Bedbug crisis worsens in Geneva hostels

Bedbugs are infesting migrant accommodation in Geneva, reports the Tribune de Genève. Despite large-scale disinfection efforts, specialists have been unable to eradicate the pests.

“We heated all my belongings, but two days later, I found bedbugs and pimples on my children,” says Ali, a resident of a hostel in Geneva. After multiple attempts, including changing mattresses and moving flats, the problem persists. Ali’s family has been battling bedbugs for two years. “It’s very exhausting, especially for the children,” he adds.

All emergency shelters contacted by the newspaper are facing similar issues. Experts attribute the difficulty in exterminating bedbugs to the nature of the buildings. “Older structures have lots of hiding places for bedbugs,” says Patrick Horner, director of DetectDog.

In addition to the impact on residents’ health, the bedbug infestation is reducing available space in care facilities at a time when the system is already under pressure. In July, the Hospice Général reported that around 70 rooms in one hostel were unusable. However, public authorities have yet to offer financial or logistical support to the shelters in their fight against the infestation.

• Article by the Tribune de GenèveExternal link

Keystone / Michael Buholzer

Zurich’s cannabis pilot project yields positive results

A year after Zurich’s controlled cannabis sale study began, project leaders are reporting promising early results. Participants are receiving advice on how to reduce their consumption.

Over 12 months, 300kg of cannabis products were sold in 21 pharmacies, social clubs, and drug information centres across Zurich. So far, around 2,100 people have participated in the government-authorised pilot project, with more than half of them using cannabis at least four times a week.

The project offers organic hemp grown in Switzerland with regulated THC content. Sales outlets also provide guidance, such as recommending lighter products to users. The aim is to combine preventive work with controlled access to cannabis.

“I haven’t reduced my consumption, but the quality of the products is much better than the drugs sold on the black market,” one social club customer, a 36-year-old computer scientist, told Swiss public television, RSI. He says he visits the club several times a week and enjoys meeting other participants in the programme.

• Report by my colleagues at RSIExternal link

The major battle of the autumn session will be fought on domestic policy, especially the funding of the Swiss army. Keystone / Anthony Anex

Swiss parliament autumn session: what matters for the Swiss Abroad

The Swiss parliament’s autumn session opens on Monday, and for the Swiss Abroad, several debates will be of particular interest.

Child pensions for retirees could be abolished. The House of Representatives has already passed a motion calling for this, and the Senate may follow suit. Right-wing parliamentarians argue that these pensions allow emigrants to support the children of foreign spouses living abroad.

The electronic identity (e-ID) law could also take a significant step forward. Having been approved by the House of Representatives, the bill is now with the Senate, and the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad sees it as a prerequisite for the introduction of electronic voting.

The main debate of the session will focus on the military and its budget. While all parties agree that Switzerland’s defence capabilities must be strengthened, opinions vary on how this should be financed.

• Read the article by my colleague Balz Rigendinger

Keystone / Laurent Gillieron

Switzerland in focus

A jewel of the Belle Époque, once frequented by Empress Sissi, the former L’Alcazar theatre in Territet, Montreux, is set to undergo renovation after years of neglect.

Repeated fires earned it the nickname “the cursed theatre”. Restoration work is expected to take three years. The public will have the opportunity to visit the site during European Heritage Days on September 7 and 8.

Translated from French by Alexandra MV Andrist/ts