Number of first time asylum seekers down to fewer than 290,000 in first quarter

During the first quarter of 2016, 287,100 first time asylum seekers applied for international protection in the Member States of the European Union (EU), said EU's statistical office Eurostat here on Thursday.

The number showed a 33 percent drop compared with the fourth quarter of 2015, when 426,000 first time applicants were registered.

With over 102,000 first time applicants between January and March 2016, Syrians remained the main nationality of people seeking international protection in the EU Member States, ahead of Iraqis and Afghans.

They represent the three main nationalities of first time asylum applicants in the EU Member States over the first quarter 2016, accounting for 60 percent of all first time applicants.

During the first quarter 2016, the highest number of first time applicants was registered in Germany, with almost 175,000 first time applicants, or 61 percent of total first time applicants in the EU Member States. The number was followed by Italy, France, Austria and the United Kingdom.

source : xinhua