Half-year statistics - Fewer new refugees in Berlin
In Berlin, fewer asylum applicants arrived in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2023. According to data published on the website of the Berlin Office for Asylum and Migration (LAF), 4,928 new asylum applicants were registered from January to June. This is 1,633 or approximately one quarter fewer than the previous year (6,561). In addition, 304 refugees found shelter in Berlin through special admission programs.
The trend is similar for refugees from Ukraine. In the first half of 2024, 5,077 refugees came to Berlin. This is around 3,400 or 40% fewer than in the same period of the previous year (8,497).
Rising trend among asylum applicants
Since 2020, the number of asylum applicants in Berlin has been steadily increasing. The LAF counted 16,762 new arrivals in 2023. Whether the first half of 2024 can be extrapolated to the entire year is open. In previous years, numbers tended to rise more strongly in late summer or fall. The top countries of origin for asylum applicants were recently Turkey, Afghanistan, Syria, Vietnam, Moldova, and Georgia.
In the case of Ukrainian refugees, the further development, according to the Integration Administration, depends significantly on the war situation in the state from which Russia is attacking. In the entire year 2023, 15,144 refugees came to Berlin from Ukraine, compared to around 68,000 in the previous year, starting from the beginning of the Russian attack war.
Senate must set up emergency shelters
The accommodation of refugees in Berlin is very difficult due to a lack of housing. The Senate was therefore forced to create large emergency shelters for thousands of people on the former airports Tegel and Tempelhof.
As of July 8, 30,938 people were living in LAF's regular shelters, only 369 places were still available. In the emergency accommodation, including sites such as rented hostels, 9,229 people were living at that time, 2,665 places were still available.
- The Regional Office in Berlin has reported a decrease in migration from Ukraine, with a 40% drop in refugee arrivals during the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
- According to the Berlin Office for Asylum and Migration, the decline in asylum seekers from Ukraine is reflected in the statistics, showing a significant decrease in refugee arrivals from this country.
- Despite the decrease in refugee arrivals from Ukraine, the overall trend of migration to Germany continues, with Germany still serving as a destination for migrants from various countries, including Turkey, Afghanistan, and Syria.
- The German government, including the Berlin Senate, must continue to address the housing needs of refugees, including Ukrainians, by setting up emergency shelters and seeking alternative housing solutions to accommodate the increasing number of asylum seekers.
