Switzerland streamlines asylum processes to deal with influx of refugees

The Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) indicated on Tuesday that a new asylum center to be built in Zurich has been given the go-ahead by federal and local authorities.

Located in Duttweiler-Areal in the Western suburbs of Switzerland's biggest city, the new site will be able to accommodate 360 asylum seekers by 2020.

A total of 870 new places are to be created in canton Zurich to streamline existing asylum processes and deal with the increasing influx of refugees arriving in Switzerland.

Once funding for the construction of the new facility has been approved by the town's citizens, the center will be rented and managed by the confederation for an initial period of 15 years.

This increase of asylum places is also integral to an agreement convened in March last year which called for the creation of 5,000 places in federal centers spread across six regions to alleviate existing strains on cantonal and communal facilities.

SEM reported that its pilot center in Foerrlibuckstrasse, where accelerated procedures are being tested, will continue its activities.

The current Juch center, which lodges some 300 asylum seekers in Zurich, will carry on accommodating asylum seekers until the Duttweiler-Areal complex becomes operational.

Potential sites for buildings which will host the remaining 510 places are being examined by Bern together with cantonal authorities. Endit