Janice R. Andrews
Several European nations, including Germany and France, have paused asylum applications from Syrian citizens following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad. After Islamist rebel group HTC captured Damascus over the weekend, Assad fled the country, ending his 24-year regime.
The French Interior Ministry announced the suspension to manage the anticipated rise in asylum requests from Syria. Since the conflict’s start, over six million Syrians have fled, with Germany alone granting refugee status to one million.
In addition to France and Germany, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden have also temporarily halted the processing of Syrian asylum applications. This collective decision highlights concerns about managing the potential surge of displaced individuals.
With the political upheaval in Syria, Europe is focusing on finding effective ways to handle humanitarian needs while controlling immigration in this rapidly changing situation.
