Photos: Christos Theodoridis
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Cyprus (UNHCR) acknowledges the growing migratory pressures on Cyprus as a front-line country, especially in recent times, but considers that there are solutions that can ease congestion which do not require international protection.
The head of the Office, Katia Saha, spoke to the Cyprus News Agency and Kyriaki Christodoulou on the occasion of the difficult situation in the center of Pournara and the efforts of Nicosia to provide emergency assistance from the EU.
Ms. Saha stressed that the living conditions of asylum seekers in Pournara have deteriorated in recent years due to overcrowding. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the camp has welcomed all newly arrived applicants and has served as a long-term reception facility.
Crowding, anxiety for unaccompanied children
According to Ms. Saha, the center currently accommodates about 2,300 people while the maximum capacity is 1,000 people. About 500 applicants live in prefabricated premises with access to electricity and heating, while others are housed either in tents or in semi-rigid plastic structures without access to electricity and adequate sanitation.
“A recent notable improvement is that no one is currently sleeping on the floor following a donation of campaign beds by the UNHCR. Also, there are no more people waiting outside the center to be accepted, under very precarious conditions. “The ongoing situation of some 280 unaccompanied children remains worrying,” he said.
Ms. Saha explained to KYPE that the temporarily secured safe space for these children who are alone can not accommodate them all and that the capacity of the official safe zone, which will be ready in the coming weeks, is only for 80 children.
“Only three guardians are responsible for all the children and there are significant delays in their departure (from the center) with the authorities looking for alternative housing. Children do not have access to education. “The UNHCR supports the efforts of the Ministry of Social Welfare to find temporary solutions, such as placing children in hostels in cities with access to services, until other permanent solutions are identified,” he said.
He noted that although women and families also live in separate wards to prevent the dangers of sexual and gender-based violence, many complaints of sexual harassment are reported each month.
He also said that asylum seekers are allowed to leave the camp and live in the cities after their quarantine and registration, if they have a valid address in Cyprus. However, he added, due to the recent increase in coronavirus cases, all procedures in Pournara, including new imports, have been suspended until further notice, resulting in significant delays.
The head of the UNHCR explained that her office has a physical presence in the camp to inform the authorities about the daily difficulties and to help find solutions to various issues, from medical needs to providing information to applicants and their transfer to the community.
It also provides various items such as blankets, tents, accommodation units, campaign beds, heaters, water boilers and benches. It has also been employing an expert since November 2021 to propose solutions to improve infrastructure and workflows to increase the efficiency and speed of processing application processes.
As Ms. Saha explained to KYPE, the recommendation is to adopt emergency preparedness plans for a possible sudden flow and to seek long-term improvements in Pournara.
Katia Saha stressed that the UNHCR recognizes that Cyprus is one of the leading countries in the EU facing increasing migratory pressures that require increased solidarity from other Member States, as well as effective internal management measures.
He notes that among those who have arrived on the island are people fleeing conflict and persecution, who need international protection. From January to November 2021, 11,939 new asylum applications were submitted. In all, more than 20,000 applications for international protection were pending at the end of 2021.
“A comprehensive management of the asylum system in accordance with international law and regulations would require the implementation of prompt and fair asylum procedures. The recent recruitment of five additional judges to the Administrative Court of International Protection will only lead to faster processing if the procedures are simplified to ensure that appeals are heard expeditiously. On the other hand, it is necessary to ensure that all asylum seekers have access to an appeal in the event of negative decisions. “If this does not happen, they can not be returned to their countries of origin,” she said.
To overcome this hurdle, the UNHCR recommends that free legal aid be offered to all asylum seekers whose applications have been unsuccessful, at reception centers, and that court fees be abolished.
Ms. Saha also explains to KYPE that in order to deal with the current complex situation it is important to create a coordination mechanism that will bring together all stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs providing services and UN services.
“Inclusive procedures will lead to more comprehensive solutions. The lack of integration policies and programs has already led to conflict and unrest in Chloraka. “It is crucial to invest in integration to avoid ghettoisation and ensure social cohesion.”
The National Plan for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals, which is expected to be implemented in early 2022 if approved by the Council of Ministers, could, he notes, be a catalyst in improving the integration of beneficiaries of international protection. It consists mainly of 30 proposals in eight key areas, such as housing, education, employment, vocational training. “We are pleased to note that some of the recommendations of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees have been incorporated into the final document and we strongly encourage the government to give the green light as soon as possible to begin implementation,” he said.
Everyone is entitled to access to asylum, alternatives for domestic helpers and students
The head of the UNHCR Office tells KYPE that the right to apply for asylum is a fundamental human right and this also applies to people who arrive illegally by sea or cross the Green Line illegally, regardless of whether they have sought help or not from smugglers or smugglers. . Therefore, he notes, access to asylum must be guaranteed at all times.
Ms Saha noted that refugees are particularly vulnerable to trafficking or to serious crimes and human rights abuses while on the move, adding that smuggling and human trafficking take place in all parts of the world and many people fleeing conflict , violence or persecution are forced to resort to smugglers, in the absence of safe and legal ways.
“The authorities can not deny entry or return individuals without conducting an individual assessment of those in need of protection, as this would be a violation of international law. The use of asylum procedures by people who do not need international protection can be reduced by offering immigration alternatives and entry visas for domestic workers and students. “Those who do not need protection should be returned quickly to their countries of origin, and those who are clearly refugees should not wait for years to start their integration in Cyprus and become regular taxpayers,” he explains.
According to Saha, UNHCR supports the Government's efforts to obtain further assistance from the European Commission and individual Member States to speed up returns. He added that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is mandated to implement voluntary return programs, which will allow those who have not been granted asylum to return with dignity and resume their lives with minimal assistance.
“The rapid return of those who do not need protection would discourage many more than attempting to travel to Cyprus, and Cyprus could use the available resources to improve the integration of those in need of protection,” he said.
The Lakes Center
Asked about the Lakes Center and the discussion on European funding, Ms Saha said she had not yet received funding as it did not meet EU minimum standards.
Due to the overpopulation in Pournara, he says, the authorities decided to transfer asylum seekers to the Lakes to ensure access to the asylum procedures of all those affected by COVID or their close contacts.
Efforts have been made to improve the infrastructure and reduce the standards to the minimum required by EU legislation on reception centers, he said. , for the decongestion of Pournara. “We have a full-time presence at the center to help the government identify and address issues such as a lack of heating and medical services.”
At present, he notes, medication is administered only on the basis of reports from the UNHCR official and administrative staff, without access to a medical examination. He referred to the concern of the 650 applicants currently in the Lakes for the uncertainty they face for the reasons, duration and basis for their continued presence in the closed sections of the Center, despite the fact that the mandatory quarantine period has passed due to Covid .
“The UNHCR is still concerned about the difficulty of appealing a negative asylum decision from the center without accessible public transport to the Court in Nicosia,” Saha said.
