Asylum requests in Belgium nearing 15-year high

The number of asylum requests in Belgium is heading towards its highest level in 15 years, with a growing number of unaccompanied minors seeking refugee status, according to official new figures published this week.

The latest statistics from the Belgian Commissioner-General for Refugees and Stateless Persons show 22,266 asylum applications have been made since the start of 2015.

There were 5,512 in September alone, up 19.3% on August and an increase of 206.7% compared with September 2014.

According to De Standaard, with three months to go until the end of the year, Belgium is likely to finish 2015 with its highest asylum figure since 2000, when a major regularisation of migrants was implemented.

Iraqis and Syrians accounted for seven out of 10 requests made so far this year.

Photo: Sally Tipper