Asylum requests fall by a fifth

Increasing numbers of asylum seekers face expulsion Keystone

The number of asylum requests in Switzerland has fallen for the first time in two years.

According to Federal Refugee Office figures, 20,806 people applied for asylum last year – down 20 per cent on 2002.

But officials said there had been a significant increase in the number of people arriving from eastern Europe, especially Georgia and Russia, many of whom were unable to give credible reasons for seeking asylum.

The Federal Refugee Office said on Wednesday that the number of bogus requests was on the rise as people increasingly sought asylum for economic rather than political reasons.

Spokesman Dominique Boillat said 7,818 applications were rejected last year – up from 6,445 in 2002.

The latest statistics show that the largest group of asylum seekers came, as in previous years, from Serbia and Montenegro, and from Turkey.

People arriving from Iraq make up the third-biggest group, followed by Algerians.

Requests from people from West African countries, such as Congo or Nigeria, have decreased, however.

Welfare benefits

Parliament is currently debating cutting welfare benefits for asylum seekers whose requests have been turned down.

These cuts, which could come into force in April this year, are part of a controversial savings plan to reduce public spending by SFr3.3 billion ($2.7 billion) over the next few years.

The Swiss Red Cross has voiced concerns that asylum seekers who lose welfare benefits will turn to crime.

The organisation also warned that asylum seekers whose requests were rejected would go underground in Switzerland.

It wants to set up a special medical service for asylum seekers living illegally in Switzerland to ensure they receive treatment.

swissinfo with agencies

Key facts

Last year 20,806 people applied for asylum, which is a 20 per cent drop compared with 2002.
7,818 requests were turned down, compared with 6,445 last year.
Most of the asylum seekers arriving in Switzerland are from Serbia and Montenegro, and Turkey.
An increasing number of people from Georgia and Russia are applying for asylum.
The Swiss parliament is currently debating whether to stop welfare benefits for asylum seekers, whose requests have been turned down.