Asylum applications sink to five-year low
The number of people applying for asylum in Switzerland has fallen to its lowest level in five years. Applications from Yugoslavia dropped below 300 for the first time this year.
A total of 1,177 asylum seekers lodged applications in June, 358 fewer than the previous month.
At the same time 7,156 people left Switzerland. Of those, 3,375 were Kosovars returning home as part of the government’s repatriation programme.
The figures bring down the total number of asylum seekers in Switzerland to 20,205.
Most applications came from Yugoslavian asylum seekers, although for the first time this year, the number dropped below 300, to 213.
The next biggest group, with 120 applications, came from Turkey, followed by 84 applications from Iraqis.
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