Asylum applications in Europe fell to the lowest level in April for over a decade, European Union figures show.

The European Union shut its external borders in March and members of the EU closed their own borders to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The number of asylum applications fell to 8,730, an 86% drop from 61,421 in February, according to figures obtained by Reuters news agency from the European Asylum Support Office (EASO).

EASO figures also recorded a 44% drop in asylum applications from February to March when countries started to impose lockdowns.
Most applications during 2020 until April came from Syrians followed by Afghans, Venezuelans and Colombians.