So, it turns out that last year saw a significant surge in the number of foreigners receiving asylum seeker benefits in Germany. As of the end of 2022, around 482,300 individuals were reaping these benefits, which is a whopping 21% increase from the previous year. That's nearly 84,000 more people receiving aid!
One major contributor to this uptick is the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. According to Destatis, around 40,000 of these asylum seekers hail from Ukraine, making up a substantial 8% of the total.
Breaking it down by continents, most of these folks are originally from Asia (52%), followed by Europe (29%) and Africa (16%). You'd think Syrians, with their ongoing civil war, would be the top source, right? Well, you'd be wrong. Despite troubles in other parts of the world, Germany is welcoming the most refugees from Syria (13%), Afghanistan (12%), and Iraq (11%).
Now, let's talk about the genders and ages of these refugees. A whopping 63% are male, 37% are female, 31% are minors, and a mere 2% are older than 64. So, most of these refugees are young adults or children.
Besides the standard benefits, asylum seekers may also be eligible for special benefits, like help in cases of illness or pregnancy. At the end of 2022, 289,900 people were entitled to these benefits, with 57,600 solely getting special aid.
Initially, Ukrainian war refugees were being aided through the Asylum Seekers Benefits Act. However, since June 2022, they've been rolled into the basic income support scheme under Social Security Code II. However, it seems they'll keep receiving benefits under the Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act until they get a residence permit.
And that's the lowdown on asylum seekers in Germany! It's clear that the country is providing significant support to those fleeing war and conflict. But let's not forget the multifaceted challenges they're facing, such as secondary migration control and resource constraints. It's a complex issue that deserves our attention and understanding!
