MIGRATION ON THE UP!
A POPULAR CHOICE OF DESTINATION
Cyprus has recently experienced a mass increase in both illegal and legal migration with a steady increase in numbers since 2017. The island has become a popular choice of destination for these people because of the island’s European status, large unpopulated coastline and central location between three continents. Situated very close to the coast of Turkey, the island is aptly within easy reach of Europe, Africa and the Middle East, meaning less distance for small boats to travel, which generally equals a higher success rate. The island’s status as a member of the European Union also attracts people seeking refuge from war, persecution, and economic hardship. Those fleeing conflict often cite that Europe offers stability, protection and a better economic life.
ASYLUM APPLICATIONS
Whatever their reasons for leaving their home countries, asylum seekers in Cyprus often arrive with nothing, but the clothes on their backs, hoping to find safety, security, and a new beginning on the island. Many of them come from war-torn countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, where they have been forced to leave their homes due to violence, persecution, and instability. Others come from countries in Africa and Asia, where poverty, political repression, and lack of opportunities has compelled them to seek refuge elsewhere. Cyprus also receives asylum applications from a number of Balkan countries such as Albania.Â
EUROPEAN STATUS
Cyprus’s European status has generally provided a stepping stone for asylum seekers looking to move on to other parts of Europe, but in spite of this, the trend for asylum applications to remain on the island has still gradually increased year on year since Cyprus became a full member of the EU in 2004. Applications have reached record numbers with an increase year on year and this influx of population has presented a number of challenges for Cyprus officials. This has inevitably caused a strain on the island’s resources and infrastructure, and authorities have struggled to develop a comprehensive system for processing and integrating refugees into Cypriot society.
A RISK TO LIFE
Asylum seekers often find themselves at the mercy of unscrupulous people traffikers who exploit their desperation for profit. The journey to Cyprus is not an easy one and is generally very dangerous, but despite this many still risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean Sea in overcrowded and unsafe boats. Cypriot authorities constantly struggle to patrol the whole of the island’s coast and people traffickers have found a number of ways to take advantage of this. They offer asylum seekers organised routes into the country and these include locations in the north. Asylum seekers who arrive this way simply cross over to the south at different points along the green line and then seek asylum. Once they arrive in the south, they face a number of challenges. These often include a lack of adequate housing, healthcare, and social services. they then face the difficulty of navigating a complex asylum process and integration into Cypriot society.Â
A CONSTANT STRUGGLE
The issue of asylum seekers in Cyprus is not just a matter of humanitarian concern, but also a test of the country’s commitment to upholding its international obligations and values. As a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and other human rights treaties, Cyprus has a legal and moral duty to protect the rights and dignity of asylum seekers within its borders. As a result, the Cypriot Government has made efforts to address the needs of asylum seekers, including providing temporary accommodation in reception centres, access to healthcare and education, and legal assistance in the asylum application process. However, the resources available are often limited, and the capacity of the government to effectively respond to the needs of all asylum seekers is stretched thin. In addition to the challenges of meeting the immediate needs of asylum seekers, the Cypriot government also faces the task of processing their asylum claims in a timely and fair manner. The asylum process in Cyprus can be lengthy and bureaucratic, with many asylum seekers waiting months or even years for a decision on their application. During this time, they are often unable to work legally or access social benefits, leaving them in a state of limbo and uncertainty about their future in Cyprus.
LARGE COASTLINE
The Cypriot Government has also taken steps to strengthen its asylum system and improve the conditions for asylum seekers in the country. This has included the establishment of a new Asylum Service, the adoption of a national asylum law, and the implementation of European funded projects to support the reception and integration of refugees. These initiatives are an attempt to enhance the capacity of the island to respond to the needs of asylum seekers in a more efficient, transparent, and humane manner. At the same time, civil society organisations, international NGOs, and volunteers have played a crucial role in supporting asylum seekers in Cyprus, providing them with information, advocacy, and practical assistance in their daily lives. These grassroots efforts have helped to raise awareness about the plight of asylum seekers, challenge stereotypes and prejudices, and promote a more inclusive and compassionate society in Cyprus.
Â
A RESILIENCE & DETERMINATION
Despite all of the challenges, asylum seekers in Cyprus have shown resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Many have formed communities and networks of support, helping each other navigate the asylum process and build new lives in their adopted country. These efforts have been instrumental in bridging the gap between asylum seekers and the wider Cypriot communities on the island, fostering understanding and solidarity across cultural and linguistic barriers.
POLICE CLAMPDOWN
Ultimately, the issue of asylum seekers in Cyprus is a complex and multifaceted one, requiring a coordinated and comprehensive response from all involved. Efforts to stop illegal migration are undergoing and recent police clampdowns have led to a series of arrests and successful convictions involving people traffiking on the island. These convictions have included a number of offences for conspiracy to commit crimes, being members of a criminal organisation and money laundering, but in spite of this, arrivals on the island are still rising, confirming that the challenges faced by everyone concerned with both legal and illegal migration to the island are numerous.Â
THE BUFFER ZONEÂ
The Republic of Cyprus is constantly strengthening security along the buffer zone to prevent increasing numbers of migrants crossing from Turkey through the occupied north. Migrant living conditions, amongst other things in buffer zone camps, are notoriously bad, prompting migrants to flee to the south and whilst the Republic of Cyprus has been providing humanitarian aid and medical care for these migrants fleeing south it has maintained that this cannot continue indefinitely. International organisations in the past have accused the Republic of Cyprus of failing to uphold international law by denying some of these people access to asylum procedures amid claims that authorities are pushing some asylum seekers back to the buffer zone to the extent that some of these migrants are now seeking to sue the government over alleged pushbacks. Cypriot authorities in response have stated that they have acted within the law, citing that the Green Line Regulation mandates that the Green Line is neither an international border nor a recognised boundary, but a ceasefire buffer zone which it is obligated to monitor. Cypriot authorities also maintain that Turkey is considered a safe country and it is obliged to provide access to asylum procedures to migrants within its territory, under its international legal obligations and the agreements that it has with the EU.
Is it not just a bottom line of getting benefits! Accomodation gets overcrowded as multiple occupancy of places i.e. 6- 8 in a 2 bedroom flat of mixed genders. Landlords profiteering with large rents and squalid conditions almost every accommodation block has migrants which cause social issues regarding noise, cleanliness and crime. Why are Cypriots complaining no work and begging outside Lidl when you see immigrants stacking shelves in stores, working on building sites etc? To stop the benefits will reduce the influx, why are people travelling from places like central Africa through safe haven countries to reach Europe? Simple – easy money from UN and EU all funded by the tax payers who see services in the country stretched and depleted. This is happening throughout Europe. Before you wokes and tree huggers pull the racist card I have nothing against people who migrate to another country provided they make positive contributions vis me in Cyprus no Cyprus benefits and pay taxes! I do however object to people taking away from what I have earned when they have made no contribution! Put it simply would you give a stranger your bank account access?