President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus has stated that his government will not allow irregular migration by letting through more than two dozen asylum-seekers stranded in a U.N.-controlled buffer zone on the island. The 27 migrants, including individuals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Sudan, and Iran, have been refused the opportunity to submit asylum claims by Cypriot authorities.
While the migrants are receiving humanitarian assistance from the UNHCR, the United Nations has no mandate to process asylum applications or send the individuals back to the north or Turkey. The situation has highlighted the ongoing migration issues in the region, with Cyprus implementing tough measures to reduce crossings through the buffer zone by more than 85%.
The arrival of the migrants comes ahead of local and European Parliament elections where migration is a key campaign issue. Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, only extends full membership benefits to the internationally recognized south of the island. The U.N. is urging Cyprus to fulfill its obligations under EU and international law to find a solution for the stranded migrants.
This is not the first time migrants have been stuck in the buffer zone, with Cypriot authorities wary of the potential repercussions. In a previous incident, Cameroonian asylum-seekers were eventually taken to Italy by Pope Francis. The situation underscores the complex challenges faced by Cyprus in managing migration flows and upholding humanitarian obligations.
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