Because the capacities in the asylum centers are tight, the army is providing up to 2,700 additional places for refugees. Up to 500 members of the army should help to look after them.
The federal government is creating more places for refugees from Ukraine.
The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) expects around 75,000 people seeking protection from Ukraine and around 24,000 asylum seekers by the end of the year. The current resources are not sufficient on this scale. The Federal Council therefore decided on Friday that the army should be deployed on a subsidiary basis until the end of March 2023 at the latest.
As reported by the Federal Council, the army is making around 2,100 accommodation places available by relocating recruit and cadre schools as well as refresher courses. This capacity could be further increased to around 2,700 places with suitable densification measures, the statement said.
In a first phase, the army will release accommodation at the Freiburg (soon), Bure (from the beginning of 2023) and Dübendorf (from the beginning of 2023) military bases. Additional accommodations at the Thun and St. Luzisteig military bases (both locations from February 2023) are to follow later. The training company of the army will not be restricted by this, it is said.
Up to 500 army personnel
Additional staff are needed to set up, manage and operate these accommodations, as well as to provide medical care and support for those seeking asylum and protection. According to the Federal Council, not enough staff can be recruited due to the shortage of skilled workers on the labor market. Up to 140 civilian service workers are already available for support.
In addition, the federal government can now fall back on the support of up to 500 members of the army, with these deployed in staggered fashion. They are to help set up and operate the additional military infrastructure that is being made available, and to help transport people seeking asylum and protection.
The State Secretary for Migration decides together with the army on the number and distribution of the required army members. The requested services are provided by through servants or formations who are properly on duty. The Federal Council notes that the members of the army would not take on any tasks in the field of security.
Simplified procurement
In order to be able to ensure the establishment and operational readiness of the additional accommodation, direct private procurement of the necessary goods and services is essential, writes the Federal Council. On the one hand, it is about the material needed to set up the accommodation (beds, bedding, cupboards, additional heating systems, sanitary containers, etc.). On the other hand, the basic care of the accommodated people in the areas of food, health, hygiene, clothing and care must be ensured. For this purpose, the Federal Council has authorized the SEM to procure the necessary goods and services directly on the open market.