Council of Europe Urges Cyprus to Allow Asylum for Migrants Stranded in UN Buffer Zone

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Europe’s foremost human rights body, the Council of Europe, has called on Cyprus to facilitate asylum applications for approximately 35 migrants stranded for months in a UN-administered buffer zone.

The migrants, from Syria, Iran, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Cameroon, are living in challenging conditions near the division between the Turkish-controlled north and the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot south.

Michael O’Flaherty, the Council’s Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighted the “poor living conditions” faced by these asylum seekers, which have left families struggling to obtain basic supplies such as infant formula and nappies. In a letter to President Nikos Christodoulides, O'Flaherty noted that prolonged stays in such conditions could jeopardise the mental and physical health of those stranded, citing recent suicide attempts among the group.

The Cypriot government has taken steps to control migrant flows from the north, implementing stricter measures along the 180-kilometre buffer zone, including police patrols and surveillance systems. These steps have reportedly reduced migrant crossings but raised concerns about compliance with international asylum obligations.

President Christodoulides responded to O’Flaherty, reiterating that Cyprus is committed to preventing the buffer zone from becoming a conduit for illegal migration, which has strained the country’s asylum system. He acknowledged the government’s ongoing provision of essential supplies and healthcare for the stranded migrants and stated that authorities are “working to resolve this matter within weeks.”

O’Flaherty also urged Cypriot authorities to align their maritime practices with a recent European Court of Human Rights ruling that found Cyprus violated the rights of asylum seekers held offshore. He encouraged Cyprus to uphold international asylum protocols and investigate any allegations of unlawful returns of migrants.

(Source: Associated Press)