Solidarity with the people of Ukraine is enormous. While there are currently 22,000 Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland, about 30,000 hosts from Campax alone have already agreed to take in refugees. While 1,000 new refugees come to Switzerland each day, according to Campax, 1,800 hosts have already withdrawn their offer of accommodation.
Ukrainian woman in military barracks: “We live ten in a room”(01:32)
There are many reasons for this. Many people may have imagined that living together would be easier. Christian Messikommer from Campax says: “20 minutes”.
Often there are communication problems or misunderstandings. “Even with a translated tablet, you end up hitting your limit,” Messikommer explains. “If you have to explain to someone in a foreign language how you would like to find your toilet after use, it is not always easy.”
Strangers in a small space
But the topic of nutrition often causes difficulties for both hosts and refugees. In many cases, residents of Ukraine do not follow the same eating habits as the Swiss. According to Ukrainian historian Olha Martinyuk, 36, such a different lifestyle could have financial consequences: “Often, financial support from the federal government is not enough to afford expensive food and cover all other monthly costs of refugees.”
Helping refugees in Switzerland: “People are looking for quick and practical solutions”(02:11)
Finally, privacy is also an obstacle for both parties. Whereas refugees once had their own home or apartment, they now live in a small space with strangers – and the same is true of their hosts. That’s why, according to Martiniuk, she should make sure that the assigned refugees match the hosts: “An older woman who needs to be left alone is better accommodated by older people with the same interests than a home full of children. It’s better to send families who have kids there.”
If the hosts or refugees no longer wish to live together, the refugees will be housed in a canton facility. But the majority of the 22,000 Ukrainian refugees are already in such cantons. Currently only about 5,000 people from Ukraine reside in private homes or apartments in Switzerland. (obf)
More about Ukraine refugees
Ukrainian woman in military barracks: “We live ten in a room”(01:32)
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