From January 2025 Refugee accommodation for 175 people on the Twannberg BE campus

A collective accommodation facility for refugees is to be built on the Twannberg BE campus. Up to 175 people are to be accommodated there from January 2025. Operation is initially set for three years.

Keystone-SDA

21.06.2024, 18:41

21.06.2024, 18:56

SDA

Due to the limited predictability of international migration movements, it is still unclear which countries the people will come from. However, those with refugee status, temporarily admitted persons and persons with protection status S will be given space, as the Office for Integration and Social Affairs (AIS) of the Canton of Bern wrote on Friday evening.

The accommodation in the building, which was previously used as a hotel, will be run by the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) Canton of Bern for the next three years. It will be supervised around the clock, seven days a week. The first accommodation will be provided in January 2025 at the earliest, the statement continued.

Welcome classes or intensive "German as a second language" courses are initially planned for the children in the accommodation. The municipality of Twann-Tüscherz will receive support from the canton. They will only be integrated into regular classes after longer stays.

Criticism from the municipality

The municipality of Twann-Tüscherz was skeptical after the decision, wrote the AIS. However, they had decided to take a prudent and pragmatic stance. The responsible authorities and partner organizations had made a commitment to the municipality to react quickly and effectively in the event of problems.

In addition, a regular exchange of information is to take place between all parties involved in the form of a "round table". The public is also invited to attend. The first information event will take place on August 19.