Nearly 30 asylum seekers are currently stuck in the United Nations-controlled buffer zone between the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus and the internationally recognized south, sparking concerns about their well-being amid a crackdown by Cypriot authorities on undocumented migration.
The groups, consisting of 13 people from Syria and 14 from various regions in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, are scattered in different locations within the buffer zone, which spans approximately 112 miles across Cyprus. These individuals arrived on foot from the occupied north and are now facing a dilemma as returning to that area would result in deportation due to the lack of legal infrastructure for providing asylum.
President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus recently stated that while the authorities would provide humanitarian aid to the migrants in the buffer zone, they would not be allowed to enter the south to prevent the establishment of a new route for illegal migration. The European Commission, however, emphasized that member states are obligated to consider asylum requests, even within the buffer zone.
The migrants, who crossed into the buffer zone in two separate groups over the past few weeks, are currently enduring sweltering temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Concerns have been raised about their well-being, especially for a 13-year-old boy who was hospitalized for psychological issues and others experiencing symptoms of heat-related illnesses.
While aid workers and United Nations peacekeeping forces have provided tents, food, toilets, and showers to the stranded migrants, living in the buffer zone indefinitely is not a sustainable solution. The United Nations refugee agency in Cyprus has urged the Cypriot authorities to grant asylum to the individuals trapped in the buffer zone.
The situation has been exacerbated by a freeze on asylum claims by Syrians in Cyprus, leading to more than 14,000 Syrians in the country waiting for a response to their applications. The recent increase in arrivals from Lebanon has prompted the Cypriot authorities to step up border patrols and assign more guards to the buffer zone.
Despite efforts to curb migration via sea routes, the influx of asylum seekers through the buffer zone highlights the ongoing challenges faced by migrants seeking safety and a better life. As the migrants in the buffer zone remain in limbo, calls for assistance and a resolution to their plight continue to grow.
