Asylum seeker statistics reflect the international situation
Between January and August, a total of 2,105 people sought asylum. This figure is slightly higher than the corresponding number for the previous year, when 2,032 individuals sought asylum.
International conflicts are usually reflected in asylum seeker statistics. The number of Ukrainian asylum seekers rose in the summer of 2014. Between January and August, a total of 191 Ukrainian individuals sought asylum, the majority of them doing so after March. The number of Ukrainian asylum seekers increased from 4 in March to 87 in August.
Meanwhile, there has been no significant increase in the number of Iraqi asylum seekers, despite the worsening of the situation in Iraq which may affect asylum seeker statistics during the remaining part of the year.
As in previous years, Iraqis are the largest group of asylum seekers. At the end of August, Ukrainians formed the second largest group. Somalia remained third in the asylum seeker statistics. Last year, the corresponding countries were Iraq, Russia and Somalia.
The Finnish Immigration Service expects some 3,500 asylum seekers in 2014
The Finnish Immigration Service currently predicts that, if approximately 350 applicants arrive every month, the number of asylum seekers will rise to 3,500 in 2014. Their number usually increases slightly in the autumn.
With its current resources, the Finnish Immigration Service expects to be able to issue decisions to slightly over 3,500 asylum seekers this year.
Negative decisions for the majority of Ukrainian asylum seekers
Already 53 asylum decisions have been issued for Ukrainian asylum seekers during the spring and summer. Almost all of them have received a negative decision. Some have withdrawn their applications.
Each application is processed individually. In most cases, the application is based solely on the situation in eastern Ukraine. This alone is not a sufficient reason for granting a residence permit on the basis of international protection. Several applications have been dismissed in Finland, with the asylum seeker being sent back to another EU Member State that is responsible for processing their asylum application (the Dublin procedure).
Most of the Ukrainian asylum seekers have entered Finland and resided here on the basis of a visa issued by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. It should be noted that seeking asylum and obtaining a negative decision on an application can affect the applicant's current and future visas.
Accommodation capacity was cut during the first half of the year and two reception units will discontinue operations
The number of asylum seekers arriving in Finland has not decreased, but asylum seekers are leaving the reception system faster than earlier. This has left surplus accommodation capacity in several reception units. For this reason, accommodation capacity in these reception units has been cut.
The Punkalaidun unit for minor asylum seekers discontinued operations in late January 2014 and the Siuntio reception centre at the end of April 2014. Additionally, the customer capacity of the Kotka, Kristiinankaupunki, Mänttä-Vilpula, Lammi, Oravais and Vaasa reception units was cut by 400 places.
A decision was taken to discontinue the Ruukki and Punkalaidun reception units; both will cease operating in late October.
Continuous monitoring of the situation enables appropriate reactions
The ability of reception units to increase their customer capacity has been improved, due to the fact that the number of asylum seekers clearly increased during the summer. A hundred new accommodation places have been added to first-stage accommodation in Helsinki. Furthermore, preparations have been made to increase the number of accommodation places from 100 to 150 in what are called “waiting” centres, if necessary.
Increases in customer capacity will be implemented on the basis of commissions from the Finnish Immigration Service. These arrangements will enable the accommodation of some 400–500 more people. Discontinued units will not be reopened and new units will not be set up unless the inflow of immigrants increases at a significantly faster rate than now.
More detailed statistics available online
More detailed statistics on reception services between January and June can be found on the website of the Finnish Immigration Service at www.migri.fi > For the media > Statistics > Statistics on reception.
The newest asylum statistics are available on our website at www.migri.fi > For the media > Statistics > Statistics on asylum and refugees
Exceptionally, we will not publish more detailed statistics on asylum applications between January and June this year.
Further information for the media
Esko Repo, Director of the Asylum Unit, tel. +358 295 430 431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi
Veikko Pyykkönen, Senior Adviser, Reception Unit,
tel. +358 295 430 431, e-mail: firstaname.lastname@migri.fi
