The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in an announcement expresses deep concern for the safety and well-being of approximately 31 asylum seekers, including seven children, who are trapped in the buffer zone (BZ) in Cyprus. It is noted that “Five of them entered the Pournara reception centre to apply for asylum after crossing … Read more
The Commissioner for Administration, Maria Stylianou-Lottides, has ignited a firestorm within the Asylum Service after a scathing report revealed significant delays in processing international protection applications from Syrian refugees. The report, prompted by a surge of complaints from frustrated applicants, exposes a bureaucratic nightmare with some Syrians waiting two to five years for a decision … Read more
Cyprus is ready to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants stranded in the buffer zone, with the Red Cross already offering aid. The country has obligations under the EU’s Green Line Regulation and is cautious about becoming a new route for illegal immigrants. Fourteen migrants from Afghanistan, Sudan, Cameroon, and Iran are stranded near a university campus in Aglantzia. The UN Peacekeeping Force and UNHCR are working to assist them, as Cyprus has temporarily suspended asylum applications and increased patrols along the buffer zone. Additionally, asylum applications for Syrian nationals have been suspended due to human rights violations in Syria.
The number of irregular migrant arrivals in Cyprus has significantly decreased following the suspension of asylum applications for Syrian nationals.
Fact: Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Kairidis said that Cyprus is “not alone” on the matter of migration and that Greece supports the initiatives put forward by Cyprus.
Fact: Cyprus will host an international meeting of interior ministers to discuss migration, with a focus on declaring parts of Syria safe for migrants to return.
Cyprus cannot accept any more Syrian refugees.
Five boats with migrants heading to Cyprus appeared to be in distress on Wednesday, with reports of coastguard pushbacks and sick children on board. The migrants have been at sea for days, with some sick and injured individuals. One group reported being threatened with guns and told to go back to Syria. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) and Lebanon’s authorities have not provided assistance, leaving the migrants trapped at sea between Cyprus and Lebanon without food or water. Amnesty International has called on Cyprus’ authorities to rescue the people at sea. Cyprus has deployed coastguard patrol boats to intercept migrant boats off the coast of Lebanon, and has suspended asylum seeker applications for Syrian nationals.
The government of Cyprus is ready to revoke the protection status of around 30 people from Syria who have traveled back to Syria via the north in the past year. These individuals will not have the right to appeal the decision.
A 16-year-old was arrested as the navigator of a boat carrying 73 Syrian migrants that arrived in Larnaca. Another boat with 37 irregular migrants was also intercepted off Cape Greco.