Asylum applications from Afghans increased by more than 20% in July, before the Taliban took power in Kabul in mid-August, according to figures from the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) released Thursday.
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Out of some 50,000 applications for international protection filed in July (+ 8% compared to June) in the 27 EU countries, plus Norway and Switzerland, those of the Afghans continue to approach the Syrians, who remain the first group of applicants.
They increased for the fifth consecutive month (7,300, + 21%), those of the Syrians standing at 8,500 (+ 14%).
The gap between the two groups has been steadily narrowing since December 2020, underlines EASO.
They are followed by the Turks (2,500, + 50% compared to June).
An influx feared by the EU
Since the Taliban took power, Europeans fear a migratory influx from Afghanistan and rely on support for neighboring countries, to avoid a crisis similar to that of 2015.
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The total number of asylum applications in July was the highest since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020, approaching the February 2020 level (+ 80%), according to EASO.
Requests for unaccompanied minors reached 2,200 in July (1,900 in June, 1,500 in May), an increase due to Afghan minors who rose from 700 in June to nearly 1,200 in July.
Protection was granted to 39% of applicants in June, of which 3 / 5ths were granted refugee status, according to preliminary figures.
This protection reached a particularly high rate for Syrians (87%) while it was lower for Afghans (45%) than during the previous six months.