Federal and cantonal asylum situation remains tense
Published: Friday, Nov 3rd 2023, 18:01
Updated At: Saturday, Nov 4th 2023, 00:54
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The situation in the federal and cantonal asylum system remains tense and the number of beds is scarce. This is the conclusion of an exchange between the cantonal social directors and Justice Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider in Bern on Friday.
In the eyes of the Conference of Cantonal Directors of Social Affairs (SODK), the federal government must do everything it can to ensure that asylum seekers do not have to be assigned to the cantons prematurely, according to a statement. Early allocations of people with pending asylum procedures occurred in late fall 2022.
Difficult recruitment
According to the SODK, many cantons have reached their limits not only in terms of bed capacity, but also in recruiting staff. One major challenge is the accommodation of unaccompanied minors who have arrived in Switzerland.
In the canton of Zurich, for example, refugees could increasingly be housed in civil defense facilities or even army tents if the situation deteriorates further. Many municipalities have almost exhausted their options for accommodating asylum seekers, it was reported at a media conference in Zurich on Friday.
Emergency planning is to be revised so that the planning of accommodation places no longer has to be tackled in crisis mode. The SODK is also involved here. According to its communication, in conversation with Baume-Schneider, it emphasized its desire for planning that is as stable, binding and consistent as possible.
Army extends offer
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) currently has 10,500 places for asylum seekers. The army will provide 3,700 of these by the end of 2024. The SEM can offer a further 6800 places, also thanks to the civil defense facilities provided by the cantons, said an SEM spokesperson when asked by the Keystone-SDA news agency.
The Federal Council received a rejection from parliament for its plans to house asylum seekers in container villages on army bases. The Council of States rejected the necessary supplementary credit in June. The National Council wanted to provide the money.
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