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UK gets record 63,000 asylum applications in June 2022, accepts over 15,000

According to government figures released on Thursday (August 25), the UK received a record of over 63,000 asylum applications in June 2022, the most in nearly two decades, and accepted almost one-fourth of them.
British authorities offered official protection, including asylum, resettlement, and relocation, to 15,684 people that month, after getting 63,089 applications, the highest number since 2003, showed the national statistics published online, the Anadolu Agency reported.
The number of approved protection requests was 24% lower than in 2019, prior to the coronavirus pandemic, though higher than figures recorded in 2015-2018.
Resettlement represented 10% (1,622) of those people who requested protection this year, while the number of requests was 77% higher than in 2019.
These figures do not, however, account for those resettled or relocated under two 2021 schemes for people fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Made under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, they will be included in future government immigration statistics.

People from Afghanistan, Syria, Eritrea, Sudan and Iran made up the top five nationalities applying for official protection in the UK.
With the launch of Russia's attack on Ukraine in February this year, the Britain introduced the Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme to accept refugees fleeing the war in that country. By the end of June 2022, a total of 151,482 applications were made, of which 133,854 were granted.
Under the Ukraine Family Scheme, 47,378 applications were made by March 31, including 43,325 that were granted. Similarly 104,104 applications had been made for the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme, with 90,529 accepted.
The UK also introduced Ukraine Extension Scheme, under which 14,098 extensions were provided.
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According to the figures, the British government has accepted more refugees from Ukraine than all those who came from conflict zones outside of Europe.
In addition to the high acceptance rate, authorities have offered to pay UK residents £300 ($355) to resettle Ukrainian refugees in their homes and has provided them with the right to work and travel freely, among other privileges and benefits not given to other asylum seekers in the country.
Afghan refugees who fled the Taliban takeover last year have been resettled temporarily in hotels but were told by the Home Office earlier this month to search for private accommodations via real estate agents.
UK government's first flight of asylum seekers to Rwanda grounded
The order drew condemnation from charities and rights groups who warned of homelessness among the refugees due to a lack of knowledge on rental laws and processes.
The government has been accused of hypocrisy and double standards in its response to the Ukraine war and handling of Ukrainian refugees' arrival in the UK.
Condemnation across the country intensified following an immigration agreement with Rwanda that would see asylum seekers in the UK deported to the East African country.
A total of 69.5 million people from beyond the Common Travel Area (CTA) with Ireland visited the UK by the end of June 2022.
Scottish Council revives 200 empty flats for Ukrainian refugees
This was a 253% increase from the same period in 2021, when only 19.7 million people visited the UK as a result of the travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Just over 2 million visas were granted by the Home Office in the same period. Of those, 45% were for short-term visits, 24% were student visas, 16% work visas, 2% for family-related visits, and 14% were related to other reasons.
Source: aa
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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