The island of Cyprus is seeing more and more people arrive as migrants and refugees, mostly because of the troubles and wars in the Middle East. This problem is made worse by Cyprus’s own history of being divided since the 1974 war. For these new arrivals, the island’s long-standing conflict adds to their difficulties.
A Split Island, Different Rules
After becoming independent in 1960, Cyprus was invaded by Turkey in 1974, leading to 37% of the island being occupied. This created a physical split between Greek Cypriots in the south and Turkish Cypriots in the north, separated by a UN buffer zone.
- North (Turkish Cypriot Side): Only Turkey recognizes the northern part as independent. This means international laws, including EU laws, don’t apply there. People from Turkey were encouraged to settle here, often on land left by Greek Cypriots. For migrants, this side is a “dead end” because they can’t easily move on to other European countries.
- South (Greek Cypriot Side): This part is the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus, which joined the European Union in 2004. Its migration rules follow EU laws.
Past and Present Migration Flows
Cyprus has long been a place people came to, or passed through.
- Past Arrivals: In the 1980s and 90s, people from Lebanon, Palestine, and former Soviet countries arrived. Later, workers from poorer countries came for jobs. Sadly, human rights problems, like trafficking, also started to appear.
- Syrian Conflict Impact: Since the war in Syria began in 2011, many refugees have come to Cyprus. But there are reports of migrants being turned away or sent back.
- High Asylum Numbers: Cyprus gets the most asylum applications per person in the entire EU. In 2022, there were about 21,600 applications, and in 2023, around 11,600.
Problems with Welcoming Newcomers
Most asylum seekers now reach the south by crossing from the north. The way migrants are handled in Cyprus is tied to both EU rules in the south and Turkish policy in the north.
- Crowded Facilities: There are reception centers for asylum seekers, but some, like the Pournara camp, have faced reports of bad living conditions. Many migrants also struggle to find affordable, uncrowded housing in cities.
- Growing Hostility: There’s been a rise in unfriendly feelings towards migrants, fueled by local news stories blaming them for crime. Some politicians even suggest that Turkey is using migration to change who lives on the island.
- Risk of Violence: In the north, migrants have no official way to move further into Europe. If they try to cross into the south, they often face racism, violence, and insecurity.
Shared Responsibility
Cyprus’s unique divisions and its place in a tricky neighborhood make managing migration very hard. However, this shouldn’t excuse the governments in both the north and south, or the UNHCR, from their duty to help and protect asylum seekers and refugees.