On June 12, 2024, UNHCR expressed its alarm about the plight of those trying to seek asylum in Cyprus, and specifically, the people seeking asylum who are trapped in the Buffer Zone, including seven children. While they are provided with basic needs, such are food, water, clothing and basic facilities, they are accommodated in precarious conditions and exposed to extreme temperatures.
As someone living and working in Cyprus, directly engaged in migration and refugee issues, I find the situation of the 31 asylum seekers currently trapped in the United Nations-controlled buffer zone deeply concerning. This issue is not only about border management, it is a humanitarian challenge that requires immediate action that follows the rule of law and principles of the European Union.
I come from Spain, which is also a border country and an entry point to the European Union. I am not unfamiliar with issues of migration from a national perspective and I understand how dangerous certain rhetoric can be, not only for those seeking asylum and safety but also for the protection of my country’s principles and rule of law, which requires the provision of humanitarian assistance and adequate legal procedure.
The individuals in the buffer zone are now caught in a dangerous limbo. They have risked everything to escape violent and dangerous situations to seek asylum and safety, only to find themselves stranded in a demilitarized zone, exposed to extreme heat and deteriorating living conditions.
This situation is part of a greater context of the inadequate processing of asylum petitions in Cyprus, since new measures by the government have suspended the processing of asylum applications for Syrian refugees, starting on mid-April 2024 and which have affected more than 14,000 asylum seekers. Moreover, there have been reports of interception and pushback of boats carrying asylum seekers in Cypriot shores, which result in risk and violate the right to seek asylum.
As a member of the European Union, Cyprus is bound by legal obligations that include providing legal paths for individuals to seek asylum. The European Commission has stressed that member states must allow people to apply for international protection, even in transit zones. This principle is a cornerstone of EU law and reflects the broader international legal framework established by the 1951 Refugee Convention, which Cyprus is a signatory to.
Concerns that allowing these asylum seekers could set a precedent for new migration routes must be outweighed against legal and humanitarian responsibilities. The current stance undermines the very values that the EU is supposed to protect – human rights, dignity and the rule of law. By adhering to international legal obligations, providing legal paths for asylum cases to be processed and providing refuge to those in need, Cyprus can uphold its respect to human rights and its commitment to the rule of law.
