In the hot and uncomfortable buffer zone of Cyprus, dozens of migrants are stuck with no clear future. They were sent there by police from the southern part of the island. According to the UN refugee agency, 59 asylum seekers are now living in this area, which is watched over by the UN. They had tried to move south in search of a better life.
Hussein Zare, an Iranian refugee, shared his story while sitting under the shade of trees, surrounded by UNHCR-branded tents. He fled Iran with his family, aiming to enter the European Union and start a new life in France. In May, he traveled from Iran to Istanbul and then to the TRNC, which occupies the northern third of the island where EU law does not apply. When Zare tried to cross into southern Cyprus, the police arrested him and his family and placed them in the buffer zone. He lamented that the government has blocked them in this area, referring to the camp next to a UN post.
The Cypriot Ministry of Migration and Asylum stated that their decision to not accept these individuals is driven by the need to prevent the Green Line from becoming a passage for migrants. Since the 1974 Turkish invasion, triggered by an Athens-backed coup, Cyprus has been divided between the Greek-speaking south and the Turkish Cypriot north, which declared independence in 1983 but is only recognized by Turkey. The buffer zone, guarded by UN peacekeepers, stretches across the island, separating the two sides.
Cyprus, as the EU’s easternmost member, claims it is a “frontline country” on the Mediterranean migrant route. Asylum seekers make up more than five percent of the republic’s 915,000 population. The Cypriot government has accused Turkey of ignoring the issue and allowing irregular migrants to cross the Green Line, leading to tighter security measures along the divide.
Zare and the other migrants in the camp have hired a lawyer with the help of UNHCR to file asylum applications with Cypriot authorities. However, they have yet to receive any positive response, with their requests being repeatedly rejected. The Republic of Cyprus’s migration ministry stated that since these migrants traveled through Turkey to the occupied areas, it is Turkey’s responsibility to provide them access to asylum procedures.
British High Commissioner Irfan Siddiq visited the buffer zone camp and highlighted the dire conditions in which these people, including children, are living. He called for an urgent solution to relocate them to more humane conditions and to process their asylum claims.
Mudassir, a 34-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, fled Taliban rule in Kabul, fearing for his life due to his father’s work with the US embassy. He hoped to find safety in the EU by traveling to the TRNC, but only upon arrival did he realize its unrecognized status. When he crossed the buffer zone to seek asylum, Cypriot police refused to register their cases, instead placing them back in the buffer zone. Mudassir described the harsh conditions, mentioning the presence of snakes and the difficulties faced by women and children.
Lawrence, a Nigerian migrant, arrived in northern Cyprus on a student visa, escaping anti-LGBTQ persecution in his home country. After being caught by police when crossing from the north, he expressed his despair, saying he had given up on everything. His dream was to finish college and lead a normal life anywhere.
Click here to join our WhatsApp channel to get latest news for & about migrants.