Number seeking asylum in Ireland rises 94% in first six months of 2024…driven by fourfold increase in people from Nigeria
The number of people seeking asylum in Ireland has skyrocketed in the first half of 2024, with a staggering 94% increase compared to the same period last year. One of the key drivers behind this surge is a fourfold increase in asylum seekers from Nigeria.
IRISH TIMES
The number of people seeking asylum in Ireland has almost doubled in the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year.
By the end of June there were 10,604 applicants for international protection (IP) in comparison with 5,470 by the end of June last year, a 93.9 per cent increase.
[…] This year’s figures are driven by a fourfold increase in people from Nigeria seeking asylum. Last year 764 Nigerians tried to claim asylum in the first six months; this year the figure is 2,999. Nigeria accounts for almost 30 per cent of all asylum seekers to the State this year, by far the greatest number from a single country.
Nigeria was not included in the revised list of safe countries of origin last week. Jordan (1,037), Pakistan (769), Somalia (649) and Bangladesh (649) are the other main countries of origin this year. The rest 4,486 (or 42.3 per cent) are from other countries.
A safe country of origin is defined as one where there is “generally and consistently” no persecution, no torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and no threat from violence in situations of international or internal armed conflict.