Asylum applications from Albania to one of the European Union countries increased significantly in September, reaching the highest figures since February. 655 applications from two months ago, translate with a 62 percent increase before the pandemic movement restriction was imposed.
Ilir Gëdeshi, head of the Center for Economic and Social Studies (NGO) said to Euronews Albania that the reasons that affect the increase in the demand for asylum seekers are economic and social.
"Albanian asylum seekers have been a constant since 2013, increasing significantly in 2015, and then because they were not accepted, this figure has been low. Behind these figures are the economic factors that have pushed the Albanians. This trend from the time of the pandemic has decreased, and after the pandemic has increased. "The reason that explains that even in July and August there were asylum seekers is mainly related to economic factors", he said.
During an interview on Euronews Albania with the journalist Bruna Çifligu, Mr. Gëdeshi stressed that this phenomenon is more noticeable in the northern areas of Albania, mainly in Kukës and Peshkopi.
"Apart from the economic factor, there are also health reasons, better education, housing, or the conflict that a particular person may have, but the main thing is the economic factor. As a phenomenon, it is widespread everywhere in northern Albania, but it is mostly in the northeast as; "Kukësi, Peshkopia, Shkodra, Elbasani, Tirana, Durrës have spread the phenomenon of asylum, mainly from the underprivileged, people who have no income and have lower education," he said.
He emphasizes that there are no proper policies to reintegrate citizens who are unemployed and do not have a satisfactory education.