Austria is facing a sharp increase in asylum applications. In the first half of this year, 31,050 people applied for asylum, mostly men from Afghanistan and Syria. Those displaced by the war from Ukraine are not included in these asylum statistics. They come under the EU’s “Temporary Protection” directive. About 65,000 Ukrainians are currently in Austria.
Different status
They initially have issued person status for one year and are therefore allowed to live and work in Austria. Asylum seekers, on the other hand, must make the persecution of individuals in their home countries believable. Possible reasons for asylum are persecution due to ethnic origin, religion, nationality, social group membership or political beliefs.
From January to June 2022, 31,050 people applied for asylum. From January to June 2021 there were 10,867 asylum applications, an increase of more than 185 percent over the same period last year. During the previous year, 40,000 people applied for asylum.
Less likely to stay
Afghans (7,325) have applied for the most asylum this year, followed by Syrians (6,680) and Tunisians (3,810), Pakistanis (3,110) and Indians (2,025). Pakistan, India and Tunisia are considered safe home countries, so the odds of staying are more than low, but that’s nearly 29 percent of applications, the interior minister said on Thursday. 20,990 applicants were male, only 2015 were female. The main escape routes led to Austria via Serbia and Hungary.
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