“In this challenging situation, we not only had to deal with our own insecurities but also with the feelings and reactions of our employees, our partners and acquaintances.”
Roos is now working in Switzerland to help secure the evacuation of around 230 local staff members and their families.
“I am concerned for our Afghan colleagues and their families and for all other Afghans who currently feel threatened in their own country.”
Roos thanked foreign office officials in Switzerland, the Swiss embassies in Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Qatar, plus the German “evacuation partners” for getting the SDC team to safety.
So far, the Swiss government has refused to open the country’s doors to large numbers of Afghan refugees despite growing pressure to ease asylum conditions in light of the Taliban takeover of the war-torn country.
Young undocumented migrants gain easier access to vocational training
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Rejected asylum-seekers and young undocumented migrants in Switzerland will have easier access to basic vocational training from June 1.
Migration: Swiss government wants to shorten reunification period for families
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Family members of people temporarily admitted to Switzerland should in future be able to join them after two years instead of three.
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2023 was a record year for the Rhaetian Railway in several respects. Never before has the narrow-gauge railway in Graubünden, eastern Switzerland, transported so many passengers and cars.
Swiss CFOs much more optimistic despite global uncertainty
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The main concerns of business leaders in Switzerland are geopolitical uncertainty and the important trading partners Germany and China.
Record organ donation in Switzerland despite high rejection rates
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More organ donations were recorded in Switzerland in 2023 than ever before. This was despite a high rejection rate of 58% by surviving relatives.
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Seven years after the death of record-breaking Swiss mountain climber Ueli Steck, his estate is going to the Alpine Museum of Switzerland in Bern.
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Swiss foreign ministry staff flown out of Kabul
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The three remaining Swiss employees at the cooperation office in Kabul have been evacuated, the foreign minister has confirmed.
Last Swiss cooperation office staff to leave Kabul
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Switzerland will withdraw the remaining Swiss staff at its aid cooperation bureau in Kabul as soon as possible, as Afghan situation worsens.
Pressure grows on Switzerland to accept Afghan refugees
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Several Swiss cities have added their voice to growing demands for Switzerland to open its doors to refugees from Afghanistan.
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Switzerland has suspended repatriations to Afghanistan “until further notice owing to the changed situation in the country”.
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