A total of 2,570 asylum seekers lived in Finnish reception centres in 2013
In 2013, approximately 3,536 asylum seekers were registered within the scope of the reception centre system, of which 95 were unaccompanied minors. A total of 2,570 asylum seekers stayed in reception centres or in group homes reserved for unaccompanied minors.
A total of 966 people had private accommodation. The number covers 27 per cent of the asylum seekers (2012: 20 per cent). Private accommodation means that the asylum seeker is staying with a friend or a relative, for example, and not at a reception centre.
Two reception centres will discontinue operations in early 2014
The number of asylum seekers in 2013 grew only slightly compared to the previous year (2013 3,238; 2012: 3,129). The number of asylum seekers coming to Finland has not decreased. However, asylum seekers exit the reception system faster than before. For this reason, many reception centres have lowered their customer capacity and two centres will be discontinued completely.
The Punkalaidun unit for minor asylum seekers discontinued operations in late January 2014 and the Siuntio reception centre will discontinue operations at the end of April 2014. The reductions in customer capacity and in centre number leave a total of 2,814 accommodation places.
Human trafficking victim and victim suspect numbers increased
The numbers of adult human trafficking victims and victim suspects have increased over the past few years. By the end of 2013, the system of assistance for victims of human trafficking covered 117 customers (2012: 94). Three (3) of them were minors.
In 2013, half (57 per cent) of the human trafficking victims accepted into the system had suffered sexual abuse. Approximately 36 per cent were the victims of work related human trafficking.
The office of the system of assistance for victims of human trafficking is located in connection with the Joutseno reception centre. The reception centre is in charge of helping both adult and minor victims. Different authorities may propose people to be included in the system of assistance for victims of human trafficking. The director of the Joutseno reception centre decides who will be included in the system and for how long they require assistance.
More detailed statistics available online
A more detailed review of reception activities in 2013 is available in Finnish on the Finnish Immigration Service website www.migri.fi > For the media > Statistics > Statistics on reception.
More information for the media:
Senior Inspector Veikko Pyykkönen, tel. +358 295 430 431,
email: firstname.lastname@migri.fi
