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One-Minute World News
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Germany: 980,000 refugees
Germany has the largest refugee population in Western Europe. In December 2002, just under a million foreign nationals were resident in Germany on humanitarian grounds. Most are from the former Yugoslavia, Turkey, Iraq and Iran. But the number of asylum seekers has decreased by half since restrictions were imposed in 1993.
All asylum seekers are placed in reception centres for up to three months, and are not allowed to work. Cash benefits amount to about $38 a month and other assistance is given in kind.
