During the start of the year, the Finnish Immigration Service will reduce the accommodation places in the reception centres for asylum seekers by approximately 160. In addition, the Punkalaidun group home will close completely starting from 1 February 2014.
The accommodation capacity will be cut, because there are plenty of free places in the reception centres at the moment. Approximately 560 of the total of 2,880 accommodation places at the reception centres are vacant. The number of asylum seekers arriving in Finland has not decreased from last year, but currently the asylum seekers leave the reception system faster than earlier.
The number of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers has decreased
Fewer unaccompanied minor asylum seekers have arrived in Finland than in previous years, and the units for minor asylum seekers at reception centres are underused, with occupancy averaging only 57%.
The Punkalaidun group home has 14 beds for minor asylum seekers arriving in the country without a guardian. Last May, the number of accommodation places was reduced by seven.
After the Punkalaidun centre is closed, the remaining group homes and support housing units nationwide will have a total of 126 beds available for minor asylum seekers.
The number of places in the Helsinki and Oulu reception centres will be reduced starting from 1 January 2014. In Helsinki, the number of accommodation places in the Punavuori and Kallio units will be reduced by 50 places from both units. A total of 60 places will be reduced from the Oulu reception centre.
If necessary, new accommodation capacity can be provided quickly
The reception unit of the Finnish Immigration Service, which controls the reception of asylum seekers in Finland, closely monitors any variations in the numbers and profiles of applicants in Finland and other Nordic countries. Developments in the situation in the countries of origin of asylum seekers are also closely monitored, and consideration given to their effect on refugee flows and, ultimately, on Finland. Additional accommodation capacity can be provided quickly if necessary.
According to preliminary statistics, 2,954 people applied for asylum in Finland between January and November. This is 4% more than last year (January–November 2012: 2,834).
Further information for the media
Veikko Pyykkönen, Senior Adviser, Reception Unit
tel. +358 71 873 0431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi
