Radio Erena: 12 November 2014
The number of Eritrean asylum seekers in Switzerland has reached over 22,000 this year alone, reported the country’s news media.
The news media stated the number of Eritreans seeking asylum in 2004 was only 1700 and seeing it increase to its current state over a decade has shocked Swiss nationals.
Télévision Suisse Romande [RTS], noting that the number has increased by 6,000 this year compared to last year’s, pointed out the main reason for Eritreans to leave their country is the dictatorial region in Eritrea.
RTS interviewed former foreign affairs reporter at the Eritrean Ministry of Information – Awet Aregay, and Awet stressed the lack of opportunity to freely express himself as a journalist and lack of warranty for his life as a basis for his decision to leave Eritrea.
The number of Eritrean immigrants tops the asylum seekers in the country. Having seen this rapid growth, Swiss politicians are nowadays engaged in debating over legislative measures that need to be taken to address the issue.
Switzerland, meanwhile, is reported to have begun returning Eritrean immigrants who crossed over to the country via Italy back to Italy.
According to reports, the issue of Eritrean asylum seekers has become a continuous alarming topic for many European countries.
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