IN 2014 asylum applications to rich countries reached their highest level for over 20 years, according to data from the UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency. Around 866,000 applications were lodged, a 45% increase on the previous year. Two-thirds of those were in the European Union. Southern Europe saw a particularly sharp rise, with applications to Italy doubling to 157,000, as more refugees risked crossing the Mediterranean.
via - Economist