Politics · Switzerland · 12 hrs ago
Switzerland to reopen 120-bed asylum shelter in Niederscherli
Switzerland will reopen a shelter in Niederscherli from mid-November to temporarily increase places in federal asylum centres.
The shelter is in the municipality of Köniz and has 120 beds, mainly for people from Ukraine.
The move follows a slight seasonal rise in asylum applications, but the total remains well below last year’s level.
The federal migration office says extra places can also be created by fitting more people into existing centres, in coordination with municipalities.
The Niederscherli shelter will close again when applications fall.
No other additional accommodation is planned at present.
Six federal asylum centres closed in June 2026 are expected to remain closed until at least summer 2027 if application numbers develop as forecast.
Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Migration will reopen the Niederscherli civil-defence shelter from mid-November.
The shelter in the municipality of Köniz has 120 beds and is intended primarily for people seeking protection from Ukraine.
The move temporarily increases accommodation capacity at federal asylum centres as asylum applications rise slightly on a seasonal basis.
The total number of applications remains well below the level of the previous year.
The shelter will close again once the number of asylum applications falls.
- Who
- Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Migration (SEM).
- What
- It will temporarily reopen a 120-bed civil-defence shelter in Niederscherli.
- When
- From mid-November; the year is not stated.
- Where
- Niederscherli, in the municipality of Köniz, Switzerland.
- Why
- Asylum applications have risen slightly on a seasonal basis, prompting SEM to temporarily increase accommodation capacity.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Six federal asylum centres were closed.
The Niederscherli shelter is due to reopen.
The Niederscherli shelter will be closed again.
- Capacity
- 120 beds
- Location
- Niederscherli, municipality of Köniz
- Planned reopening
- Mid-November
- Intended residents
- Primarily people seeking protection from Ukraine
- Six federal asylum centres
- Closed in June 2026; expected to remain closed until at least summer 2027