Norwegian immigration authorities are bracing for a new wave of asylum seekers from Somalia and Eritrea, because of the drought and famine now gripping the east coast of Africa.
Norway already receives a steady stream of refugees from the troubled area, but the drought now hitting the area known as Africa’s horn is the worst in around 60 years. The United Nations has estimated that as many as 10 million people are threatened by famine.
“Experience shows that it’s the most resourceful who come to northern Europe and Norway to seek asylum,” Ida Børresen, director of immigration agency UDI (Utlendingsdirektoratet) told news bureau NTB.
UDI has handled 6,179 asylum applications so far this year, with around half of them being granted. Somalians and Eritreans made up about 40 percent of the total number of asylum seekers.
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