Turkey emerged as the top country of origin for asylum seekers in Switzerland in June, the State Secretariat for Migration (SSM) declared on Tuesday.
According to statistics from the SSM, out of the total 2,395 applications received during the month, a significant majority came from individuals hailing from Turkey and Afghanistan.
According to the data, the countries from which the asylum seekers arrived in Switzerland in June were Turkey, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Algeria, and Syria, respectively. Within a one-month period, 580 applications were made from Turkey, indicating an increase of 97 new applications compared to the previous month. The corresponding numbers for Afghanistan, Eritrea, Algeria, and Syria were 504, 186, 165, and 126, respectively.
Out of the 2,395 applications made in June, 1,994 were primary applications (made by individuals who were not covered by the Dublin Regulation and had not previously applied for asylum). Among these applications, 498 were from Turkey, followed by Afghanistan, Algeria, Morocco, and Syria.
The number of individuals seeking asylum in Switzerland from the war in Ukraine reached a total of 1,506 in June. Among the applications, 1,271 individuals were granted “S” protection status, which is exclusively given to Ukrainians. So far, the number of individuals granted “S” protection status has reached 65,191, while 13,249 individuals have lost this status.
POOR CONDITIONS OF REFUGEES
On the other hand, various civil society organizations and human rights groups, including the United Nations and those operating in Switzerland, criticize the state for the conditions in refugee camps. Many refugees are kept in underground camps and extremely poor conditions for months or even years, with the excuse of insufficient capacity. The increasing hostility towards foreigners in the country has led to the implementation of harsh measures against refugees. Switzerland is known as one of the strictest countries in Europe when it comes to granting citizenship rights, particularly to foreigners, due to the recent decisions it has made.
