Brussels, 26/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - According to figures published by the UN on Thursday, asylum applications in the industrialised world soared by 45% in 2014, largely provoked by the conflicts in Syria and Iraq. These figures are close to the record numbers registered at the beginning of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The situation in these two countries has provoked the worst humanitarian crisis in our era, according to a declaration by the spokesperson for the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Melissa Fleming, according to a report by AFP. In total, 866,000 asylum applications were made last year in 44 industrialised countries, 45% more than in 2013. They have almost reached the record level registered in 1992 at the beginning of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina (almost 900,000 demands for asylum made at the time). According to the UN, 60% of asylum seekers made applications last year in just five countries: Germany (173,100 applications), US (121 200), Turkey (87,800), Sweden (75,100) and Italy (63,700).
In 2014, Syrians made up the biggest group of asylum seekers, with more than 149,600 applications (+166%). According to the HCR, this trend is not expected to change. Many of the 3.9 million Syrian refugees settled in neighbouring countries can see that the conflict in their country is far from over and are now deciding to emigrate to Europe in an effort to provide a better future for their children. Melissa Fleming warned that “This is a new trend” and called on European countries to demonstrate generosity in this respect.
The numbers of people fleeing the fighting and violence in Iraq stood at 68,700 seeking asylum last year (+84%). Those fleeing Afghanistan come next (59,500, +65%), Serbia and Kosovo (55,700, +61%) and Eritrea (48,400, +117%), according to the HCR.
In the EU 28, the UN recorded a 44% increase in applications (570,800). The heaviest burden is being borne by southern Europe, particularly Italy. France is one of the rare exceptions in industrialised countries where applications decreased (-2%, with 59,000 applications), explains the UN. (Solenn Paulic)