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Ministry offers 5,000 beds for asylum seekers

The defence ministry has defended itself against accusations that it has not provided enough accommodation for asylum seekers.

Many places were inadequate for the purpose, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

“The defence ministry has offered the Federal Migration Office more than 20 lodgings with a total of more than 5,000 beds, which the army can make available within a short period of time,” it said.

The majority of these, it added, were in military camps and mountain quarters which the army would be prepared to convert.

The defence ministry said it had supported the migration office in its search for suitable accommodation for almost a year and would continue to do so. However, fire regulations meant many of these places could be used only temporarily if at all.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR