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 the BZ but were later removed from the centre by police and pushed back to the BZ.”
“According to the latest reports, at least two of these people, including an unaccompanied child from Syria, are now missing, while others are in need of medical and psychological attention,” the UNHCR announcement reports.
It adds that while food, water, clothing, and basic facilities are provided to people in the buffer zone through the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and with the support of UNHCR, they are living in precarious conditions, in tents exposed to extreme temperatures that have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in recent days.
It notes that the Republic of Cyprus offers emergency medical care at the state hospital, however, after treatment, the asylum seekers are returned by the police to the buffer zone.
“This situation requires urgent action. As we have underlined in communications with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, ensuring effective access to asylum procedures and adequate reception conditions is an obligation under international refugee law. The European Commission has also reiterated that the Republic of Cyprus must apply and enforce all aspects of the EU acquis” said Philippe Leclerc, UNHCR Regional Director for Europe.
The announcement also states that European legislation applies in all areas of Cyprus where the Government of the Republic of Cyprus can apply its legislation, including the UN buffer zone.
It adds that this incident comes amidst “a spate of actions which are effectively shrinking the protection space of Cyprus. This includes the implementation of concerning new measures by the government of Cyprus which affect Syrian refugees and asylum-seekers, including suspending the processing of their asylum applications as of mid-April. This measure has affected more than 14,000 Syrian asylum seekers.”
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also refers to the “resumption of arrests, sometimes with the use of force, of asylum-seekers who try to submit a subsequent application, in order to subject them to return proceedings”.
In addition, it is reported that in recent months, there have been multiple reports of “interception and subsequent pushback of boats carrying asylum-seekers attempting to reach Cypriot shores”.
“Interceptions and pushbacks at sea and the refusal to refer asylum-seekers stranded in the BZ to asylum procedures result in the risks of direct or chain refoulement for affected asylum-seekers,” it adds.
The UNHCR states that it recognises the challenges faced by Cyprus regarding new arrivals and is ready to provide additional support to ensure that the fundamental human rights of asylum seekers and refugees are respected.
“We are committed to working with the government and other stakeholders to find sustainable solutions that uphold our shared responsibility to protect those fleeing conflict and persecution,” Leclerc said.
Additionally, he mentions that “We have long reiterated that Cyprus as well as other States on the EU external border, should not be left alone. Continued EU resources, solidarity and responsibility-sharing are needed to boost Cyprus’ response capacity”.
In response to rising migrant arrivals, Cyprus has suspended the processing of asylum applications from Syrian nationals and called on the EU to classify Syria as a safe country of origin.
No legal basis
Cyprus Refugee Council coordinator Corina Drousiotou told in-cyprus that there is no legal basis for excluding a specific nationality from asylum applications.
She explained that a similar measure was tried during the administration of Nicos Anastasiades, but failed to bring any results.
“This measure was also tried in 2022, during the previous government, and did not bring forward results, as it did not reduce the arrivals of Syrian nationals”.
The U.N. human rights office stated earlier this year that based on evidence it has gathered, Syrian refugees who fled the ongoing Syrian civil war are facing gross human rights violations such as torture and abduction on their return to Syria, while women are subject to sexual harassment and violence.
(Information from unhcr.org)
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