The number of refugees in Saarland is falling: challenges remain!

The number of refugees in Saarland is falling: challenges remain!

The refugee situation in Saarland has changed significantly in 2023. This shows that the number of refugees from Ukraine has fallen sharply. Loud wndn.de In the current year, 7,670 people sought asylum in Saarland, which represents a decrease of more than 50 percent compared to over 17,000 in 2022. The background to this development is the reduced number of Ukrainians seeking protection, who came into the country in large numbers during the Russian invasion.

At the same time, however, the number of asylum seekers from other countries increased. Loud sr.de The arrival of people from crisis regions such as Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey has increased by around a quarter to around 3,500. A fact that further increases the challenges in accommodation and integration. Despite the decline in numbers from Ukraine, many refugees who have been there since the previous year remain.

Challenges for municipalities

The municipalities are facing enormous challenges because the integration of refugees not only requires suitable housing, but also adequate care, including education and childcare. The Saarland Association of Cities and Municipalities has determined that there is no relief for the municipalities. Interior Minister Reinhold Jost (SPD) addressed the currently tense living conditions and referred to temporary solutions such as living containers and rented hotels.

By the end of November 2023, 145 people had been deported, while 170 people left the country voluntarily. These figures make it clear that, despite the decline in newly arrived refugees, there is an ongoing task in processing asylum procedures. In 2023, integration measures were also increased by the federal government, which would like to provide 7,500 euros per refugee annually from 2024, but according to Jost, this is not enough.

Asylum procedures and integration

Another point is the complexity of the asylum procedures. According to the information from Statista At the end of 2024, around 3.3 million people seeking protection will live in Germany. Of these, around 82 percent have recognized protection status. The majority of asylum seekers are young men from Islamic countries of origin and children. The legal asylum procedure is often lengthy and complicated. Many people have to wait a long time for their applications before a decision is finally made.

A different path was taken for war refugees from Ukraine: They received temporary protection status, which means that they do not have to go through a regular asylum procedure. The question of integrating these people into society and the labor market remains an urgent challenge. These processes can take years and are often associated with high costs and difficulties. Socio-political debates about migration and asylum policy remain a hot topic in Germany, from which Saarland cannot escape.