Iranian family trapped in Swiss shelter for 18 months amid asylum limbo
An Iranian family has spent more than a year and a half in a crowded shelter for rejected asylum seekers in Aarwangen, Switzerland. The facility, managed by private firm ORS on behalf of the Canton of Bern and federal migration authorities, houses 138 people, including 53 children. Concerns have grown over the impact of these conditions on the youngest residents, particularly an 11-year-old boy suffering from nightmares and anxiety. The family, who refuse to return to Iran due to safety fears, live in a former boys' home now used as emergency accommodation. The building, in need of renovation, offers limited privacy and poor living standards. Children in the facility often face social isolation, witness distressing events like deportations, and struggle with understimulation. The family’s situation highlights broader concerns about the living conditions in emergency shelters for rejected asylum seekers. Poor housing, limited healthcare, and restricted educational opportunities continue to affect children’s physical and mental health. Authorities and private operators face ongoing scrutiny over the treatment of vulnerable families in these facilities.
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