EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER German minister visits overcrowded migrant centre, says expects significant increase in asylum seeker numbers

Record ID: 144196

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER German minister visits overcrowded migrant centre, says expects significant increase in asylum seeker numbers
  • Date: 11th August 2015
  • Summary: DEGGENDORF, GERMANY (AUGUST 11, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF POLICE REGISTRATION CENTRE FOR MIGRANTS VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS WAITING OUTSIDE CENTRE MIGRANT HAVING HIS PHOTO TAKEN BY POLICE VARIOUS OF MIGRANT HAVING FINGER PRINT TAKEN BY POLICE VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS TALKING TO POLICE VARIOUS OF GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER THOMAS DE MAIZIERE WALKING PAST AND INTO REGISTRATION CENTRE VARIOUS OF DE MAIZIERE LOOKING AT MIGRANTS INSIDE CENTRE, MANY SLEEPING ON MATTRESSES ON FLOOR MIGRANTS WAITING OUTSIDE MIGRANT TALKING TO DE MAIZIERE OUTSIDE, CRYING AS HE SPEAKS DE MAIZIERE GIVING STATEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER, THOMAS DE MAIZIERE, SAYING: "When I was interior minister the first time five years ago, there were around 40,000 asylum seekers a year in Germany. The estimate for this year is 400,000, so ten times as many, and we will significantly increase this [the estimate]." DE MAIZIERE GIVING STATEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER, THOMAS DE MAIZIERE, SAYING: "We, the Interior Ministry, are preparing a new prognosis for the current year. This will be published soon, in agreement with the federal states. But I have to prepare the German public that the number (of asylum seekers) will be considerably higher than we estimated so far." DE MAIZIERE LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 26th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA11M327JJHWKSYVG6MMY7FIZMB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere on Tuesday (August 11) said he expected the number of asylum seekers to be "considerably higher" this year than the government initially estimated.
    Speaking after touring a police registration centre for migrants in the Bavarian town of Deggendorf, de Maiziere said:
    "When I was interior minister the first time five years ago, there were around 40,000 asylum seekers a year in Germany. The estimate for this year is 400,000, so ten times as many, and we will significantly increase this [the estimate]," he told journalists outside the centre.
    "We, the Interior Ministry, are preparing a new prognosis for the current year. This will be published soon, in agreement with the federal states. But I have to prepare the German public that the number (of asylum seekers) will be considerably higher than we estimated so far," he added.
    The German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has estimated that the number of first-time and follow-up applications for asylum will this year be 450,000, which is more than double the number from the previous year.
    Europe's biggest economy is currently grappling with a record number of refugees, most of whom are fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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