Switzerland, the new route for refugees to reach Germany and Northern Europe
Human traffickers are always trying to find new routes to bring refugees to Western European countries. One of the new routes for refugees is the route from Italy to Switzerland and then on to Germany and the Scandinavian countries.
Switzerland is a beautiful country and is at the top of Europe in terms of facilities. But for many refugees who reach Switzerland via Italy, the country is not attractive enough and they want to continue their journey to Germany or the Nordic countries.
Swiss authorities have increased controls on their borders with Italy. In the border region of Lugano in Switzerland alone, the number of people without a residence permit was recorded at 9,900 in June and July this year.
Swiss authorities told DW that 4,200 of these people have been returned to Italy. In total, 22,000 people have entered Switzerland illegally since the beginning of this year (2016) until July, and the Swiss government has returned 8,300 of them.
Most refugees are African.
Most of the refugees who have reached Switzerland are Eritrean (4,700), followed by Gambian (1,800), Nigerian and Afghan refugees (each group around 1,400).
It is said that refugees who have settled in the Italian border areas with Switzerland begin their journey to enter Switzerland around midnight, which is why Swiss border guards, whose numbers have increased, are in charge of controlling the borders 24 hours a day.
Continuing the journey to Germany and the Scandinavian countries
The refugees can apply for asylum in Switzerland, but many want to continue their journey to Germany or Scandinavia. If they are detained, they risk being returned to Italy.
Many asylum seekers live in secret in such circumstances. They wait for the conditions to arise and they can leave Switzerland and be transferred to Germany. The number of secret asylum seekers in Switzerland is said to have increased significantly.
From the beginning of this year to July, the number of people who illegally crossed into Germany from Switzerland was 3,400. The number was 2,500 in the whole of last year. The German Interior Ministry also announced in a statement that the number of refugees who crossed into Germany from Switzerland has increased.
The most common reason for asylum seekers to continue their journey to Germany or Switzerland is the presence of relatives and acquaintances who have already reached these countries, as well as the publicity they have heard about the favorable conditions in these countries.
The German government plans to increase the number of border police officers to combat illegal entry into the country. However, the German border police officers' fight is primarily against human trafficking gangs, which are constantly planning new ways to illegally transport people to European countries.
It is said that human traffickers are taking advantage of the summer holidays in European countries to transport asylum seekers across the Swiss border to Germany. These traffickers know very well that during the summer holidays, traffic on the border between the two countries is very high and that border control is very difficult for border police officers in these conditions.
Mania: DW
