German Chancellor Angela Merkel came under criticism on Thursday for her awkward treatment of a young refugee brought to tears by the German chancellor's comments on asylum.

A video of the encounter on Wednesday afternoon at a community event in Rostock showed the Palestinian teenager telling Merkel that her family had been waiting four years to get permanent permission to remain in Germany.

"It's really unpleasant to watch others enjoy their life and not be able to enjoy it oneself," the girl told Merkel, saying she wanted to go to college.