For first time in two years, number of open asylum procedures at Federal Office for Migration and refugee has fallen below 100,000. At beginning of September, re were only 99,334 unprocessed asylum applications. A year ago, with 579,000, re were still more than five times as many unprocessed applications on office desks.

The applications from previous year were supposed to have already been processed in May. However, in years 2015 and 2016, bamf had received so many applications that officials always ran after ir schedule. Last year, 430,000 procedures had remained. From beginning of January to end of September 2017, nearly 140,000 new applications were added.

We will never be on a stand of zero, said Jutta Cordt, head of bamf. However, it is possible to reduce number even furr by end of year: to 50,000 open applications. This is possible because number of applications is also steadily detracting. In September only 14,688 asylum seekers were re-registered.

Turkey first ranked three

Most protection seekers are still coming from Syria and Iraq, followed by Turkey, which is ranked third for first time in rankings of countries of origin. Since coup attempt last year, Turkish government has been hard against oppositionists. For first time in ten years, number of Turkish asylum seekers has been skyrocketing.

The work of bamf is still critically assessed. For new efficiency, agency had hired consulting agency McKinsey, and employees complained about time and anxiety. The lawsuits against decisions are also piling up.

Date Of Update: 12 October 2017, 12:07