IRCT REGIONAL REPORT 2016 AUSTRIA ABOUT Zebra Intercultural Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy (ZEBRA) IRCT member centre Zebra reports that Austrian authorities were not prepared to handle the current refugee crisis. In 2015 the country received one of the highest shares of asylum applications as a proportion of its population, with over 85,000 claims. Many refugees are housed in inappropriate and overcrowded emergency shelters, asylum applications are left undecided for months and in many instances, basic needs are not met. In this context, torture victims are not receiving the rehabilitation and legal support to which they are entitled. While torture rehabilitation centres have stepped in to provide support and treatment, they have not been able to meet the growing demand due to restricted capacity and a lack of adequate support from the government. In September 2015, the European Commission brought forth infringement proceedings against Austria for failing to properly transpose the Reception Conditions Directive. Zebra was founded in 1986 in Graz, Austria and began its work in earnest in 1987. Zebra supports people that have fled their home countries and works to rehabilitate victims of torture and ill-treatment. Among other services, Zebra offers information and advice on legal issues, assistance in the contacts with authorities and provides therapy to victims of torture and persons traumatised during war. Zebra offers legal advice to asylum seekers throughout the asylum procedures, physiotherapeutic treatment, family counselling and information and advice on education and employment. Protest rally by local residents against the construction of refugee shelters located in a residential area at Kirchner barracks in Graz. © Johanna Poetsch page 11