The large influx of refugees has filled accommodation centres to bursting point, obliging the Swiss authorities to distribute a greater number of asylum seekers to cantons to house.
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En Suiza, los centros federales de asilo están casi saturados
The accommodation crunch is particularly severe in western and north-western Switzerland, despite 20 new shelters being erected by the army around the country, the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) stated on Tuesday.
“Although more beds and accommodation have been made available and additional employees recruited in all regions, the situation remains very tense,” said SEM, adding that “there are hardly any free beds left”.
It is therefore necessary for cantons to temporarily take in up to 1,000 people per week, double the earlier limit of 500.
Rejected asylum seekers can no longer be guaranteed 140 days in federal asylum centres but people from Afghanistan and other countries with a high security risk, plus unaccompanied minors will continue to be housed in specialist accommodation.
Some cantons have been busy converting multi-purpose recreation halls into temporary accommodation in response to the crisis.
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