Austria's Afghan Refugee Population: Understanding The Numbers

Austria has taken in over 40,000 Afghan refugees in the past few years, with some sources citing the figure as 46,000. The country has a hardline stance on migration, with Chancellor Kurz stating that Austria has already made a 'disproportionately large contribution' and will not be taking in any more Afghan refugees. Instead, Kurz has suggested that efforts should be focused on improving the situation in Afghanistan, particularly regarding women's rights under Taliban rule.

Austria's hardline stance on migration

Austria has a hardline stance on migration, with conservative chancellor Sebastian Kurz stating that the country will not accept any more Afghan refugees. Kurz has argued that Austria has already taken in a 'disproportionately large contribution' of over 40,000 Afghans in recent years, and that the focus should be on improving the situation in Afghanistan rather than accepting more refugees. This stance has put him at odds with his coalition partner, the Greens.

Austria has received 46,000 asylum applications so far, and has tightened its asylum rules in response to the high numbers of migrants. Under the new rules, asylum seekers will have to wait three years before family members can join them, and they must prove a sufficient income to support them. The UN refugee agency has warned that these changes could keep families apart indefinitely.

Austria's stance on Afghan refugees is in contrast to other European countries, such as Switzerland, which has said it will review asylum applications on a case-by-case basis and consider humanitarian visas for those facing immediate threats. Attacks on refugee homes in Austria have also doubled, with accommodation being firebombed and sprayed with Nazi graffiti.

Despite Austria's hardline stance, the country has been grappling with the possibility of an increase in Afghan refugees as Taliban militants cement control over Afghanistan. Thousands of refugees continue to make treacherous sea crossings to Europe, with more dying than ever before on the passage between North Africa and Italy.

Austria's asylum rules

Austria has taken in over 40,000 Afghans in the past few years, although the country has a hardline stance on migration. In 2017, fewer than 14,500 migrants had been relocated from overcrowded camps in Greece and Italy under a two-year plan that was supposed to see 160,000 people housed by September.

Upon an asylum application, the Austrian authorities are allowed to take data storage devices (e.g. mobile phones) to process data to determine an applicant's identity or travel route to Austria. Asylum seekers will be interviewed by an officer of the BFA about their personal circumstances, their journey to Austria and the reasons why they fled their country of origin. The interview will be conducted in a language the asylum seeker(s) understand, and will be interpreted by a sworn interpreter.

The BFA decides whether the Austrian authorities must examine the applicant's reasons for fleeing the country of origin or whether, according to the Dublin III Regulation, another EU country (plus Norway, Iceland or Switzerland) is responsible for carrying out the asylum procedure. Asylum seekers are entitled to legal consultation through the organisations "Menschenrechte Österreich" or "ARGE Rechtsberatung" (Diakonie and Volkshilfe Upper Austria). If another country is responsible, the BFA issues a respective written decision (a ruling), against which the asylum seeker has one week to lodge a complaint.

Responsibility for providing a basic level of care to asylum seekers passes to the relevant province as soon as their asylum application is admitted. People entitled to asylum will be provided with basic care for the first four months after their application for asylum is approved. Asylum seekers have the right to receive information about their asylum application, rights and duties in a language they understand. They also have the right to access basic assistance including shelter and food, and to legally live in Austria until the asylum authority and court have made a decision on their asylum case. This means they cannot be returned to another country against their will while they wait for the final asylum decision.

Afghan refugees in Austria compared to other countries

Austria has taken in over 40,000 Afghan refugees in the past few years. This is a disproportionately large contribution compared to other countries. The country has a hardline stance on migration, and its chancellor has stated that it will not voluntarily accept more refugees.

The Islamic Republics of Iran and Pakistan host the majority of Afghan refugees globally, providing over 2 million registered Afghan refugees with access to their national health and education services. In Pakistan, there are approximately 1,438,432 registered Afghan refugees and asylum seekers under the care and protection of the UNHCR. Of the 600,000 new arrivals reported by the Government of Pakistan, over 476,000 have approached the UNHCR. In Iran, the average number of new arrivals is 1 million, with over 88,000 Afghans approaching the UNHCR.

Other countries have also accepted Afghan refugees. The US has admitted Afghan refugees throughout its 20-year involvement in the country, although that number has dropped off significantly in recent years. As of July 31, 2021, the US had only admitted 494 Afghan refugees for the fiscal year 2021. In early August 2021, the US expanded its Afghan refugee criteria to include current and former employees of US-based media organisations, aid and development agencies, and other relief groups that receive US funding. France has evacuated more than 2,800 people from Kabul airport, mostly Afghans, and has indicated that it will accept some refugees but has not specified a number. Germany has also not specified a number, but Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that as many as 40,000 people still in the country may have a right to be evacuated to Germany if they feel endangered. The UK has said it will take in 5,000 Afghans in 2021 as part of a scheme to resettle 20,000 over the next few years, focusing on those at greatest risk from the Taliban.

The number of Afghan refugees Austria has taken in

Austria has taken in over 40,000 Afghan refugees in the past few years, according to Chancellor Kurz. Kurz has taken a hardline stance on migration, stating that Austria will not take in any more Afghan refugees. Austria has received 46,000 asylum applications in total, and has been criticised for tightening its asylum rules. The UN refugee agency has warned that the new rules could keep families apart.

Austria has also been criticised for its response to the refugee crisis more generally. In 2017, fewer than 14,500 migrants had been relocated from overcrowded camps in Greece and Italy under a two-year plan that was supposed to see 160,000 people housed by September. In the same year, attacks on refugee homes in Austria doubled, with accommodation being firebombed and sprayed with Nazi graffiti.

Attacks on refugee homes in Austria

Austria has taken in over 40,000 Afghans in the past few years, according to Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz. However, Kurz has taken a hardline stance on migration, saying that Austria will not take in any more Afghan refugees.

In 2017, attacks on refugee homes in Austria doubled, with accommodation being firebombed and vandalised with Nazi graffiti. More than three-quarters of the 49 recorded cases remain unsolved. The majority of the cases were motivated by hatred, according to an MP. Albert Steinhauser, an opposition Green party politician, called for the interior ministry to take the incidents seriously and make every necessary effort to investigate.

Among the incidents was a firebombing that saw two Molotov cocktails launched at a refugee home in Himberg, Lower Austria, in November. It was one of several reported arsons, including a fire in Rohrbach, Upper Austria, in June, which damaged an accommodation centre so badly it had to be evacuated. Other attacks involved fireworks, paintball guns, homemade Molotov cocktails, and stones and other projectiles launched at windows. Most incidents involved vandalism, including the smashing of windows and spraying of racist and Nazi graffiti, including swastikas, the phrase “Heil Hitler” and SS runes.

In neighbouring Germany, more than 900 attacks on refugee homes were recorded in 2016, with the arrival of more than one million asylum seekers driving a spike in political violence and hate speech. Austria, where the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) has seats in Parliament, has been hardening its stance towards refugees. The government has announced plans to increase surveillance, ban the burqa and force refugees to sign an “integration contract” and work for benefits.

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