Today new statistics have been published showing how many asylum claims the UK has received in the first half of 2016.

The figures also show how many asylum seekers have been granted refugee protection and which countries people have fled.

Want to find out more? Read our top 20 facts on the latest asylum stats here.

Responding to the statistics, Refugee Council Head of Advocacy Dr. Lisa Doyle said: “Given the world is in the grip of one of the worst refugee crises in history, the truth is that comparatively fewer people get as far as Britain in their search for safety. Britain received just 3% of all asylum claims made in the EU so far this year.

“Next month world leaders will gather in New York to agree solutions to the global refugee crisis. We need to see Theresa May leading the way in those discussions by working with other governments from around the world to ensure more refugees are offered safe passage.

“Protecting refugees isn’t just a job for other countries in far away places. This is a job Britain can and should help with.”

The statistics also confirm that the Government’s progress towards meeting its pledge to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020 has been slow, with just 2,898 refugees having arrived so far.

Refugee Council Head of Advocacy Dr. Lisa Doyle added: “There is absolutely no reason why a country as welcoming and wealthy as Britain would be unable to fulfil its pledge to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020; after all, it’s only the equivalent of each constituency welcoming one family a year.

“In September, Theresa May and other global leaders will be asked by both the UN and President Obama to extend the level of their compassion by offering shelter to a greater share of the world’s refugees. Lives depend on the generosity of our Prime Minister’s response.”