NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The president of Cyprus mentioned Tuesday that he received’t “open every other path” for abnormal migration by way of letting via greater than two dozen asylum-seekers now stranded in a U.N.-controlled buffer zone that bisects the war-divided island country.
President Nikos Christodoulides instructed newshounds that his govt is able to supply any and all humanitarian help for the 27 Afghan, Cameroonian, Sudanese and Iranian migrants if the desire arises.
However he mentioned the 180-kilometer (120-mile) buffer zone “received’t grow to be a brand new road for the passage of unlawful migrants.” Turkey allows them to go via its territory and lets them board airplanes and boats heading for the north of Cyprus, Christodoulides mentioned.
Cyprus used to be divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by way of Greek junta-backed supporters of union with Greece. Best Turkey acknowledges a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence within the north of the island the place it maintains a drive of greater than 35,000 troops.
Cyprus joined the Ecu Union in 2004, however best the across the world known south enjoys complete club advantages and has the authority to increase asylum or global coverage to migrants.
The U.N. mentioned that the 27 migrants — roughly part of whom are ladies and youngsters — are receiving meals, water, number one first support and safe haven via its refugee company UNHCR when they have been refused by way of Cypriot government to put up their asylum claims.
The U.N. mentioned it has no mandate to procedure asylum packages and will’t ship the migrants again to both the north or Turkey.
“We’re making representations to the Republic of Cyprus to reside as much as their tasks underneath Ecu Union and global legislation,” U.N. peacekeeping drive spokesman Aleem Siddique instructed The Related Press. “We’re searching for an answer that works.”
The migrants’ arrival comes a couple of days sooner than native and Ecu Parliament elections, the place migration is a best marketing campaign factor and on which the far-right has seized to make main features, in line with opinion polls.
Cyprus had in recent times observed a big building up in migrants in quest of asylum after achieving the north from Turkey and crossing the buffer zone. A mix of difficult measures together with stepped up police patrols alongside the southern fringes of the buffer zone, speeded up asylum claims processing and expedited repatriation procedures have lowered such crossings by way of greater than 85%, in line with officers.
The island additionally skilled a big inflow of Syrian refugees achieving the island by way of boat from Lebanon within the first quarter of the yr. However a take care of Lebanese government ultimate month has successfully halted such boat arrivals.
It’s no longer the primary time that migrants were stranded within the buffer zone, and Cypriot government are cautious about reprising the dilemma. In 2021, Cameroonian asylum-seekers Grace Enjei and Daniel Ejuba who have been caught within the buffer zone for 6 months, have been taken to Italy in conjunction with a couple of different migrants by way of Pope Francis on the finish of his talk over with to Cyprus.
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