Admission, Reception and Assistance of Refugees from Ukraine in Zürich
Zürich
Mayor
Corine Mauch
Start of Project
02/28/2022
Photo: saiko3p/Shutterstock
Overview
The Government of Switzerland has activated the special protection status "S" for the refugees from Ukraine, which allows for rapid admission and pragmatic assistance on the basis of a collective recognition of the protection needs of Ukrainian citizens. The protection status "S" grants protection for one-year (renewable), social welfare and access to the Swiss labor market immediately after registration. The Canton (federal level) and City of Zürich (municipal level) work hand in hand with the State Secretariat for Migration (national level) in ensuring smooth and effective processing of registration, accommodation, information and assistance. While the national level is in charge of registration and administering the protection status, the Canton and City of Zürich in partnership with welfare organizations are maintaining a welcome and information center, identify and coordinate collective and private accommodation as well as volunteer work, provide social welfare, facilitate school enrolment, maintain hotlines for refugees and private sponsors, offer free public transportation for refugees, etc.
Expected Impact
The coordinated response to the influx of refugees from Ukraine to Switzerland involving all relevant government levels, non-state stakeholders as well as private individuals aims to ensure effective admission, reception, protection, accommodation and (temporary) inclusion of Ukrainians in Switzerland.
Priority Objectives
Protecting those most vulnerable
Providing access to urban infrastructure, social services, and education regardless of status
Supporting reception and advancing community sponsorship initiatives
“Zürich wants to support the people in Ukraine. I will ask the city council for a substantial and urgent emergency aid for the refugees from Ukraine. The City Council continues to be ready to welcome refugees in our city and to provide them to provide them with a safe life here. To this end, we are in close consultation with the association of cities, the canton and the federal government.”