Refugee numbers in Germany fall sharply in March: minister

The number of refugees arriving in Germany has fallen sharply in March to about 20,000, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere announced on Friday.

"In December 2015, it was 120,000 people, in January 90,000, in February 60,000 and in March 20,000," de Maiziere said at a press conference in Berlin, citing data from the German government's EASY initial registration system.

The number of asylum applications received in the first three months this year differs from the arrival figures and has shown an increase of 112 percent compared to the first quarter of 2015, according to the minister.

The German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has significantly increased its staff numbers to deal with the large number of asylum claims.

As Europe's top destination for refugees, Germany has taken in more than one million asylum seekers last year. The mass influx sparked a backlash in Germany, which has since reintroduced temporary border controls and taken a series of measures to reduce refugee numbers.

The recent closure of the Balkan route has also resulted in a significant decline in the number of refugees coming to Germany.

However,de Maiziere warned that "despite the positive development, it is too early to give a prediction for the full year."

"We don't know how the implementation of the EU-Turkey agreement would develop in the long-term... and whether alternative routes would emerge, especially the route from Libya to Italy," the minister said. Endit