Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides has made it clear that his government will not allow the 27 asylum-seekers currently stranded in a U.N.-controlled buffer zone to pass through as it would create a new route for irregular migration. The migrants, hailing from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Sudan, and Iran, have been receiving humanitarian aid from the U.N. after being denied the opportunity to submit their asylum claims to Cypriot authorities. Turkey is accused of facilitating their passage through its territory and allowing them to reach the north of Cyprus.
Cyprus, a divided nation since Turkey’s invasion in 1974, is part of the European Union, but only the south has full membership benefits and authority to provide asylum or international protection to migrants. The U.N. has stated that it cannot process asylum applications or send the migrants back to the north or Turkey. Efforts are being made to convince Cypriot authorities to fulfill their obligations under EU and international law.
Migration is a prominent issue in upcoming local and European Parliament elections in Cyprus, with the far-right gaining support. The island has implemented measures to reduce the influx of migrants, including increased police patrols and accelerated asylum processing. A deal with Lebanon has also stopped boat arrivals of Syrian refugees. This situation is not unprecedented, as migrants have previously been stranded in the buffer zone. In 2021, Cameroonian asylum-seekers were taken to Italy by Pope Francis after being stuck in the buffer zone for six months.
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