The number of refugees admitted to Berlin doubled in 2021 compared to the previous year.
According to the State Office for Refugee Affairs (LAF) on Monday, a total of 12,949 asylum seekers were admitted to the federal capital. In 2020, there were 6518, about half as many people.
Among the refugees in 2021 were 7,762 first-time applicants and 5,187 people with subsequent applications. In addition, according to the LAF, 885 refugees came to Berlin via special reception programs, including 445 local Afghan workers. According to the information, most of the refugees came to the capital from the Republic of Moldova, Georgia, Afghanistan, Syria and Vietnam.
According to LAF President Alexander Straßmeir, the sharp increase in access numbers was not exactly easy to cope with under the aggravating conditions of the pandemic. “Since the summer, we have adjusted our processes in such a way that, despite the high number of arrivals, all new arrivals can be tested, cared for and accommodated in the arrival center as quickly as possible,” explained Straßmeir. In addition, increasing numbers of arrivals also meant an increasing need for accommodation. Locations that have already been shut down should therefore have been reactivated.
At the end of 2021, 21,146 refugees were living in the 83 LAF accommodations. This represented a 13 percent increase from 2020, when 18,756 people lived there.
