Surge in asylum applications in EU: Number of requests has jumped 28 percent in first half of 2023

The European Union Agency for Asylum says asylum applications in the EU have kept on increasing in the first half of 2023. As well as applications in the 27-nation bloc Switzerland and Norway have also seen an increase in applications. The figures are in addition to na estimated 4 million people fleeing the war in Ukraine. Syrians fleeing violence at home represented the were the biggest group seeking asylum in the first half of the year. Arno Pedram from InfoMigrants tells us more.