UDI’s asylum prognosis will probably be lowered substantially

asylum seekers july - UDI familyThe Norwegian Department of Immigration (UDI). Photo Norway Today Media

The Directorate of Immigration (MFA) will soon be presenting a new estimate of the number of asylum seekers that are expected to arrive in Norway this year. The number will probably be considerably lower than the current forecast of 25,000.

The so-called budget figures  are made four times a year, and the next time will be around June 15, the newspaper VG reports.
– The current estimates of the number of asylum seekers are from somewhere between 5,000 and 50,000 with a “budget figure” of 25,000. The new forecast is likely to be far lower than the current, said Deputy Communications Director Håkon Fenstad Applicants. The Directorate will not go into details about how many asylum arrivals are expected this year, but other parts of the sector suggests to the newspaper that there may be fewer than 10,000.
In May   195 asylum seekers came to Norway, and the total so far this year is 1407.
– We have to go back to 1997 to find a lower number of asylum seekers in May. That year   102 asylum seekers came in May and a total of 601 asylum seekers in the period from January to May, says Fenstad.
With a much greater number of closed borders in Europe, it has become harder to get to northern countries like Norway for those who have made it across the Mediterranean. NRC believes it is still important to keep up a high level of preparedness .
–  The level of uncertainty about how the situation evolves means that the level of preparedness  should remain high,  senior adviser Paul Nesse says.

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today