This emerges from the official asylum statistics of the Ministry of the Interior, which can be accessed on the department’s website. Accordingly, the number of applications from January up to and including June increased by almost 86 percent (85.9) compared to the same period in 2020. In absolute numbers there were 10,518 applications.
These values are still well below those during the refugee crisis, but are quite high in the long term. For comparison: ten years ago, only 5,810 applications were submitted in the first half of the year. In 2015, the peak year of the refugee movement, there were almost 28,500 between January and June.
More than 80 percent of this year’s applications came from men. As far as the countries of origin are concerned, Syria and Afghanistan continue to lead. Together, citizens of these nations make up more than 6,200 of all applicants. Syrians with only six percent negative notices also have an extremely good chance of being recognized as refugees. In the case of Afghans, a third of the applications were approved.
A total of 10,813 legally binding asylum decisions were made in the first half of the year. Positive (5,268) and negative notices (5,545) were roughly in balance. Humanitarian residence permits were issued 7,784 times, plus 5,481 people who received subsidiary protection.
1,170 of the asylum seekers were unaccompanied refugee minors. 69 of them were under 14 years of age. Afghans are clearly the strongest group among older minors and Syrians among the under-14s.
Afghanistan asks for a longer deportation freeze
The Afghan ambassador to Austria, Manizha Bakhtari, asks the European countries to stop deportation for rejected Afghan asylum seekers beyond October. In July, Kabul asked to suspend returns for three months. “I urge you to comply with this request. We are not able to take in deportees,” said Bakhtari on Friday on Ö1 radio. “I don’t think there is enough time.”
Afghanistan is fundamentally committed to the agreement with the EU Commission on the return of rejected asylum seekers. “As soon as we have more stability, it would be time to take in returnees again.” However, there is currently a lack of strength and resources to organize accommodation and help for these people. “If they come back, we would be putting their lives on the line. There is a war going on. We ask that our European friends take this situation into consideration,” appealed the ambassador.
The Taliban have carried out more than 5,500 attacks since April and terrorized the people in the areas they have conquered. “They cut off hands, beheaded and stoned women,” said Bakhtari. The Taliban had ordered women to stay at home and only leave the house with men. And they would have closed all girls’ schools. The latest escalation has also led to a massive increase in internally displaced persons. “We can’t support them with food, accommodation and other things.”
In the case of the 13-year-old, who died after a violent encounter with several young Afghans, the ambassador showed her sympathy. Her heart stopped when she heard about it, said the mother of three. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.” Afghanistan is working with the Austrian authorities to ensure that justice is done. According to the ambassador, the perpetrators do not represent Afghanistan, just as the Taliban do not.
