UNHCR Senior Regional External Relations Officer in the Baltic States and Nordic Countries Markku Aikomus said that it is urgently needed for Estonia to admit more refugees into the country, reports Eesti Päevaleht. He explained that while countries surrounding global conflict areas are overburdened with refugees, Estonia has granted asylum to only seven refugees last year. At the same time, the world has never had so many refugees and displaced persons.

“The number of refugees in countries in the vicinity of crisis areas is so high that they will have to start moving elsewhere,” said Aikomus. He pointed out that with seven persons who were granted asylum last year, Estonia has the lowest number among the EU countries. A recent poll by public opinion surveys enterprise Saar Poll shows that 55 percent of Estonian residents estimate that an influx of refugees would have a negative impact on the country. Eight percent of respondents were of the opinion that the admission of refugees would have a positive impact.

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