Last year, 303 people were recognized as refugees in Japan, including those who fled from unstable situations in Afghanistan and Myanmar, the highest number since statistics began being kept.
According to the Immigration Services Agency, 13,823 foreigners applied for refugee recognition last year, an increase of over 10,000 from the previous year due to the relaxation of border measures against the new coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the number of people recognized as refugees last year increased by 101 from the previous year to 303, the highest number since 1981, when statistics began to be kept.
Looking at the number of people certified by nationality, Afghanistan, where the Islamist Taliban seized power in 2021, had the highest number of people at 237, followed by Myanmar, where clashes between the military and pro-democracy groups have continued since the military coup. people, ▽Ethiopia has 6 people, etc.
There were 1,005 people who were not recognized as refugees but were allowed to stay on humanitarian grounds.
Additionally, as of the end of last month, 647 people had been certified as ``persons subject to supplementary protection,'' which provides protection similar to that of refugees, including those who have fled the conflict that began in December last year.
Minister of Justice Koizumi told reporters after the cabinet meeting, ``I would like to make every effort to protect the people in front of me who need protection even more reliably, quickly, and stably.''