Belgium Registered 3,391 Applications for International Protection in November
According to the figures provided by the same source, as of 3,369 applications for international protection were filed in November, while another 22 people were registered in the framework of resettlements, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
The figures revealed that citizens from Afghanistan, Burundi, and Syria accounted for the majority of applications filed for international protection in Belgium, in November this year.
Citizens from the following countries completed the top ten list in terms of the highest number of international protection applications that Belgium authorities registered in November this year:
- Afghanistan
- Burundi
- Syria
- Palestine
- Turkey
- Eritrea
- Iran
- Georgia
- Congo
- Russia
As for decisions, it has been emphasized that the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) took as of 1,880 decisions in November, thus concerning as of 2,274 people. In addition, in the same month, the protection rate increased to 50 per cent.
According to CGRS data, the total workload of the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons corresponds to the number of cases in which the centre has not yet taken a decision.
“At the end of November 2022, the total workload amounted to 17,114 cases (20,097 persons). In view of the current inflow and the expansion of the workforce (more applications are being processed), 4,800 dossiers can be considered a normal caseload. The actual backlog amounts to 12,314 cases,” the statement reads.
Authorities in Belgium are subject to an increased number of applications filed for international protection, while they are continually attempting to find effective ways in order to manage the current situation.
The figures provided by the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons, as of 3,529, requests for international protection were submitted to Belgium’s Immigration Office, which marked a new record for this year.
In addition, the figures registered in August this year surpassed those of March when authorities in Belgium received an influx of Ukrainian citizens who sought asylum in this country, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The figures provided by CGRS also revealed that the total number of requests registered in August or 3,529, accounted for 15. 5 per cent of all requests filed for asylum up to this point.
Citizens from Syria and Burundi also accounted for the largest number of asylum applications filed in Belgium, in August this year.
