UNHCR report find 17 per cent rise in asylum applications in industrialized countries

Briefing notes

UNHCR report find 17 per cent rise in asylum applications in industrialized countries

This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

18 October 2011 Also available in:

UNHCR is releasing today at 11am Geneva time a new report on asylum trends in industrialized countries during the first half of 2011. The report shows a 17 percent increase in asylum claims during this period, with Afghans continuing to be the largest group by country of origin. The report notes relatively modest numbers of people fleeing Africa to Europe despite the succession of displacement crises we have seen in West, North, and East Africa. The report is available for download here.