Thirteen migrants, including unaccompanied children, are now stranded in the buffer zone, in addition to the 14 who have been living in tents between Aglantzia and Geri for the past two weeks, bringing the total to 27.
In a statement, the UNHCR representative in Cyprus, Katja Johanna Saha, confirmed the new arrivals overnight, noting that “many unaccompanied children” are among them. She stated that the 13 migrants remain trapped in the buffer zone “despite approaching police officers and expressing their desire to apply for international protection (asylum).”
Ms. Saha emphasized that the UNHCR wishes to remind everyone that, “as stipulated by national and EU asylum laws, asylum seekers on Cypriot territory must be immediately referred to the national asylum procedures where they can register and submit their application, as well as to designated reception facilities.”
She added that while food, water, hygiene products, and clothing are being provided by UNFICYP in cooperation with UNHCR, the asylum seekers are living in tents and exposed to extreme weather conditions without access to decent living conditions.
“The refusal to refer asylum seekers trapped in the buffer zone to national asylum procedures risks chain repatriation to their countries of origin if they return to the occupied northern part of Cyprus, where the absence of an asylum system often leads to the criminalization of asylum seekers for irregular crossing of the UN buffer zone and the issuance of deportation orders against them,” she explained.
Ms. Saha stressed that access to asylum procedures and decent living conditions must always be ensured in line with the principle of non-refoulement and the right to seek asylum under international, national, and EU law.
Four relevant ministries of the Republic of Cyprus—the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Defence, and Justice—are jointly handling the issue of migrants who crossed from the occupied territories into the buffer zone. A government official stated that the stance of the Republic of Cyprus on this matter is determined by “the Green Line Regulation, the status of the buffer zone, and our international obligations regarding refugees.” There is also cooperation with the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus to address the needs of these individuals.
According to the same official sources, meetings have been held on the issue and more are planned.
