The Swiss government has asked parliament to set aside CHF132.9 million ($155 million) to create additional accommodation for asylum seekers and others in need of protection.
Federal Council said it has commissioned the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) to develop a strategy and plan over the coming weeks for the construction of temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
This is intended to help ease the accommodation crunch facing many cantons following an influx of people seeking protection. This includes some 66,000 people who have fled the war in Ukraine and received special protection status in Switzerland.
Swiss authorities assume that around 30,000 people will apply for asylum this year, which will be difficult to accommodate with the current structures despite support from the army, writes the government in a press release.
The bottleneck is expected to worsen this autumn when the army facilities will no longer be available.
To support additional accommodation, the government has agreed to set aside CHF132 million to create temporary lodging. Parliament still needs to sign off on the plan.