It is one of the largest refugee movements since the 2015/2016 refugee crisis, which now affects Switzerland. At the beginning of the week, the federal government had to warn: the federal asylum centers are full. “We are happy that anyone looking for a bed can still get a place to sleep,” said Lutz Hahn, spokesperson for ORS, which operates homes on behalf of the government.
Due to the full federal asylum seekers’ centres, the cantons temporarily have to take in twice as many people as before: up to 1,000 asylum seekers a week instead of 500. The reason for the increasing number of refugees, in addition to the war in Ukraine, is increased immigration of people from North Africa and Afghanistan.
“The situation is challenging”
The flow of refugees does not come as a surprise to the cantons, many are prepared and have offered shelter. For example, those responsible in the canton of Solothurn expect some 500 additional asylum applications by the end of the year. The current situation is still a challenge, says government councilor responsible Susanne Schaffner (60).
At the moment, however, there are enough beds and they are even prepared in the event of an even higher ascent. During the week, an extra house on the Balmberg with 50 places will temporarily open.
Container village Basel planned
According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, there are 250 accommodation places available in the canton of Bern. For emergencies, 4,000 emergency beds are also available, which can be set up in gym or multi-purpose or civil defense facilities.
For example, from the beginning of 2023, a collective reception center for asylum seekers will be operated in the vacant Hotel-Restaurant Gurnigelbad. Gundekar Giebel, spokesperson for the Berne Health Directorate, told Blick that they would be grateful for any information about other vacant areas that would be suitable for accommodation. He does not expect a rapid decline in asylum applications: “At the moment we must assume that it will continue like this.”
Basel-Stadt is also prepared for the refugee flow. About 600 people seeking protection could be accommodated there immediately.
Should the previously available places in Basel be occupied, three additional underground facilities with a total of 250 places are available. The construction of a container village with 140 places is also planned, but it will not be put into use until May. The canton of Aargau has about 1,400 reserve places available.
Army continues to expand shelters
But not only the cantons are preparing for many people seeking protection. In recent weeks, the federal government has also continuously provided additional housing. The emergency plan for asylum provides that the federal government must provide a total of 9,000 beds with army accommodation. These places already exist – and soon there will be 9,500.
As of this week, asylum seekers in Emmen will also be accommodated in an army gym. The accommodation can accommodate 200 people. The system is one of about 20 that the federal government is currently preparing or has already commissioned in recent weeks. Multi-purpose halls have already been set up in Bure JU, Thun BE, Gossau SG and Chamblon JU.