Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

According to figures released Thursday by the European Statistics Office "Eustat", Syrians topped the list of people seeking asylum in the European Union, especially to Germany, Spain and France, during the month of May, which witnessed an increase in the number of asylum seekers, amounting to nearly 90 percent compared to the previous month. According to European figures in May 2022, 63,105 first-time (non-EU) asylum seekers applied for international protection in EU member states, an increase of 89% compared to May 2021 (33,385) and a 17% increase compared to April 2022 (54,145). ) . The increase from April to May 2022 can be partially attributed to increases in Venezuelans (from 3655 in April to 4,820 in May; +32%) and Syrian first-time applicants (from 6,485 to 8,025; +24%). In May 2022, there were also 6,280 subsequent applicants (people who re-applied for asylum after a decision on an earlier application was made). This is up 20% compared to May 2021, and up 13% compared to April 2022. Most of the first-time asylum seekers were Syrians in May 2022, Syrians were the largest group of asylum seekers (8,025 first-time applicants). They were followed by the Afghans (7695), ahead of the Venezuelans (4820), the Colombians (3535), and the Pakistanis (2890). In March 2022, there was a significant increase in the number of Ukrainian asylum seekers for the first time (from 2,370 in February to 12,885 in March) due to Russian military aggression against Ukraine. However, the numbers dropped to 1,510 and 1,295 respectively in April and May 2022. Germany reported the highest number of new asylum seekers with 13,855 first-time applicants registered in May 2022, Germany captured 22% of all EU first-time applicants. It is followed by Spain (10,200, 16%), ahead of France (9800, 16%), Italy (6450, 10%) and Austria (5645, 9%). These five member states combined accounted for nearly three-quarters (73%) of all first-time applicants in the European Union. 2,635 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum in the EU, almost half of them were Afghans In May 2022, 2,635 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum for the first time in EU member states, an increase of 97% compared to May 2021 (1,335) ) and by 17% compared to April 2022 (2260). This is among the member states of the European Union for which data is available. Most of the unaccompanied minors who applied for asylum in May 2022 came from Afghanistan (1215), Syria (460) and Somalia (165). Austria (770), Germany (435) and Bulgaria (320) were the three member states that received the highest number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors in May 2022