Off the wire
• Laws need updating to fight cybercrime: SPP  • Cuca could be named as new Palmeiras coach  • Chinese leaders stress development, stability in Xinjiang, Tibet  • Africa could be next hub for super wealthy individuals: report  • Israel's top diplomat says peace talks with Palestinians "not on the agenda"  • Zimbabwean firm says U.S. sanctions affect food security  • 1st LD: ECB cuts benchmark interest rate to record low of zero percent  • Gaza Strip workers protest deteriorating conditions  • 1st Ld-Writethru: Xi stresses environmental protection, poverty relief in ethnic regions  • Copenhagen attacker's alleged aides stand trial for supporting terrorism  
You are here: 　 Home

Asylum requests in Switzerland drop significantly in February

Xinhua, March 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

A total of 2,705 new asylum requests were submitted last month in Switzerland, almost a quarter fewer than in January 2016, the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) said Thursday.

As was the case two months ago, most of the asylum seekers looking for refuge on Swiss soil hailed from Afghanistan (651 requests), Syria (244) and Iraq (221).

Eritrean nationals (181) also sought asylum in the confederation.

Though fewer people registered requests with Swiss authorities last month, the SEM highlighted that the refugee situation remained tense because of ongoing conflicts and crises around the world.

A total of 583 people were granted asylum in the country last month, a further 647 were given temporary admission while 920 people left the country or were repatriated.

According to SEM figures, almost 40,000 refugees sought asylum in Switzerland over the course of last year. Endit