Many migrants trying to enter Europe through Cyprus find themselves trapped in the Green Line, the UN-controlled buffer zone dividing Cyprus into northern and southern regions. These asylum seekers, stranded in Cyprus, allege that police forced them into this no-man’s land on the southern part of the island, according to a report by Agence France Press.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that 59 asylum seekers from countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, and Nigeria are currently living in the buffer zone. These individuals tried to cross southwards into the European Union-controlled part of Cyprus but were pushed back by police. One migrant shared that he, his wife, and daughter traveled from Iran to Istanbul and then to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). When they attempted to cross into the Republic of Cyprus through the UN buffer zone, they were arrested by the police and left in the buffer zone.
The Republic of Cyprus’ migration ministry stated: “Since these people traveled through Turkey to the occupied areas (TRNC), it is Turkey’s responsibility to provide them access to asylum procedures.” This stance has left the migrants in a precarious situation, caught between borders and politics.
The Green Line, also known as the buffer zone, extends about 180 kilometers across the island, separating the Turkish-controlled north from the southern Greek-speaking Republic of Cyprus, which is part of the European Union. People seeking international protection hope to cross into the EU part of Cyprus but often find themselves stranded in the buffer zone.
Last month, 27 people from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Sudan, and Iran were stuck in the neutral area between north and south Cyprus for over a week. This group included many women and children. The UN has called on Cyprus to allow asylum seekers in the buffer zone to apply for international protection, but Cypriot authorities have resisted, stating they will not permit the group to enter and thereby turn the Turkish-backed north into a “back door” for smugglers.
In April, the Cypriot government announced efforts to negotiate an agreement between Lebanon and the EU to manage the number of departures from Lebanon. Due to its location in the eastern Mediterranean and proximity to the Middle East, Cyprus receives a significant number of migrants from Lebanon and Syria. According to UNHCR data, over 4,300 irregular arrivals into Cyprus were recorded from January to May this year, with about 64 percent arriving by land, mostly from Syria and Iran.