The 15 cantons of Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Basel-Land, Glarus, Graubünden, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Ticino, Vaud, Wallis, Zug and Zurich typically paid less than 9 francs per rejected asylum seeker day or benefits only in kind, according to a press release from the refugee parliament, which met in Bern on Saturday.
The cantons are responsible for shaping emergency aid. The benefits would vary greatly depending on the canton. Some cantons took this opportunity to advocate “more humane treatment of rejected refugees”. The refugee parliament proposes that the said cantons increase support services for those rejected in emergency aid for food, mobility, communication, hygiene, etc.
In addition, the refugee parliament wants cantons and municipalities to use underground bunkers in the asylum system only temporarily and in emergencies. “With understanding for situations like now, in which the number of asylum applications is increasing enormously”, the refugee parliament proposes not to receive refugees underground in the long term or despite the existence of other possibilities.
The Swiss Refugee Parliament was established in 2021 by the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) Switzerland. The association is committed to integration and against prejudice. In total, about 150 refugees from 20 countries and almost all cantons have participated in the two refugee sessions so far.
(SDA)