The decision was announced by the State Secretary for Migration Christine Schraner Burgener at a press conference in Zurich on Monday.
In the last few days, 847 Ukrainians have been officially registered in Switzerland. According to the authorities, they are mainly women and children. Others who have been accommodated directly by relatives or acquaintances have not yet been registered.
Most of the people fleeing the war in Ukraine are still in neighbouring countries, Burgener said.
It is unclear how many Ukrainians may seek protection in Switzerland. Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter told the NZZ am Sonntag paper on Sunday that she couldn’t say how many Ukrainians would arrive in the country.
The Ukrainian community in Switzerland is relatively small compared to other countries. There are around 11,000 people with Ukrainian nationality living in the Alpine county, including people with dual nationality.
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Justice minister: Switzerland preparing for Ukrainian refugees
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National and cantonal authorities are also counting on the help of private citizens to prepare for the arrival of Ukrainians fleeing the war.
More than 1.7 million Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion have so far crossed into Central Europe, the United Nation’s refugee agency said on Monday. About one million are in Poland and many are in Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. An estimated four million people are expected to seek refuge outside Ukraine in the near future.
Switzerland has budgeted CHF8 million for the first phase of its humanitarian support package to Ukraine. So far, allocations include CHF2.5 million to the ICRC in Ukraine and CHF2 million to the UN emergency appeal for Ukraine, and a further CHF2 million for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ regional appeal to support Ukrainian refugees in neighbouring countries.
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Swiss to help refugees from Ukraine
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Switzerland considers granting special temporary refugee status to people fleeing Ukraine.
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Industrial policies are back in fashion, not only in the United States but also in the EU. Should Switzerland, where various industries are struggling, draw inspiration from such policies?
Swiss plan 1,600 extra trains for Eurovision, Women’s EURO 2025 and other events
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Swiss Federal Railways is planning to operate 1,600 additional trains to transport passengers to special events in 2025, such as the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 and the Eurovision Song Contest.
Swiss study: higher prices for cheese with protected geographical indication
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Indications of geographical origin play a central role in the cheese trade, a study by the Agroscope research centre shows.
Swiss campaigners launch another ‘responsible business initiative’
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A coalition has launched a new "responsible business initiative", urging the government to ensure that Swiss-based multinationals and their subsidiaries abroad respect human rights and protect the environment.
Swiss court suspends Geneva plan to ban single-use plastics
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A Geneva court has suspended a ban on the sale of single-use plastics in the city, which was due to be introduced on January 1. This follows an appeal by Swiss retailers to the Federal Court.
Swiss cable car firms and hotels report positive winter so far
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The Swiss cable car association and Switzerland Tourism have reported higher visitor numbers at winter resorts over the Christmas and New Year period compared to 2023/24.
UBS expects Swiss National Bank to record CHF80bn profit in 2024
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The Swiss National Bank (SNB) is expected to make a net profit of CHF80 billion ($88.4 billion) in 2024, according to UBS.
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Consumer prices fell last year in Switzerland, new figures show. Higher rents and electricity prices were partially offset by lower prices for gas and prescription drugs.
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New data from the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) shows that flu cases doubled in Switzerland between mid and late December.
Swiss bank Julius Bär sells its Brazilian operation
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Swiss private bank Julius Bär has signed an agreement to sell its operation in Brazil for 615 million reais, or CHF91 million ($100.7 million).
Historian claims Swiss banks may hold further Second World War secrets
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Bank archives could still hold secrets about Swiss actions during the Second World War and should be re-examined, especially those of UBS, says Marc Perrenoud, a historian who worked on the Bergier Commission.
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.
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Justice minister: Switzerland preparing for Ukrainian refugees
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National and cantonal authorities are also counting on the help of private citizens to prepare for the arrival of Ukrainians fleeing the war.
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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.