Overall, Switzerland remains a safe nation, especially when compared with many others. But a new government analysis has, nevertheless, found potential risks that could significantly impact the country’s residents.
For years, Switzerland has been regarded as a ‘safe haven’ due to its pacifist stance, as well political, social, and economic stability.
That, for the most part, has not changed.
However, in its analysis released on March 2nd, the Federal Office for Civil Protection (BABS) lists three major risk areas which “present a high potential for damage and a relatively high probability of occurrence,” putting Switzerland’s population in considerable danger.
What are they?
Armed conflict
Though such an event may seem highly unlikely in Switzerland, the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 demonstrated that no country – not even a neutral one – is safe from geo-political conflicts potentially reaching its borders in one form or another.
BABS’ report states that “the hazard associated with the greatest extent of damage is armed conflict.”
If it occurred in or close to Switzerland, it would result “in a high number of casualties, considerable economic losses, and significant damage to buildings and infrastructure,” BABS said.
Furthermore, the most serious consequences of such a scenario “are disruptions to the supply of a large number of goods and services” – including food and medicines.
READ MORE: What residents in Switzerland need to stockpile in case of crisis
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Pandemic
Based on experiences of the most recent health crisis, Covid-19, BABS believes that “due to globalisation, increased human-animal interaction, and climate change, the probability of another pandemic is now greater”.
Though it is impossible to foresee what kind of diseases could emerge, “the extent of the damage has been revised upwards,” BABS said.
The worst-case scenario now includes “an unknown pathogen, which implies, among other things, a longer time before a vaccine becomes available and a higher potential for mutation in the meantime.”
Prolonged electricity shortages
Even though rationing measures have reduced the risk of uncontrolled power outages, the risk still exists.
According to BABS, it would affect not only individual households but also critical electricity-reliant infrastrucure like hospitals as well as public transport, among other essential services.
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What about immigration?
The right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) thinks that immigration is a risk to Switzerland – culminating with its immigration-curbing initiative coming to the ballot box on June 14th.
In it, the populist party calls for putting a cap on the influx on EU nationals to Switzerland to prevent the country’s population (now just over 9 million) from reaching the 10-million mark, which it claims would strain key infrastructure such as housing, health system, public transport, and schools.
READ MORE: What exactly does the Swiss ‘no to 10 million’ anti-immigration proposal aim to do?
However, despite the SVP’s claims, this particular issue is not included on the BABS’ risk list
