Filenews 22 December 2023
Remarkable data are recorded this year in relation to migration, since the map of countries of origin and especially the way has changed.
The Green Line remains the main entry of irregular migrants into the Republic with a large decrease in arrivals compared to last year, while the passage by sea mainly of Syrians and Palestinians is now the big challenge for the authorities.
The Africans who flooded into Cyprus last year are counted on their fingers, while the problem with Syrians is growing, resulting in the interior minister submitting a proposal to the EU to consider returning to safe areas in Syria. At the same time, this year recorded a significant achievement where departures of irregular migrants exceeded arrivals. New asylum applications from March to November 2023 reached 9,091, while in the corresponding period of 2022, applications were 17,065 (a decrease of 53%).
In total, 21,565 applications were submitted in 2022 and this year (December remains) 10,589 (a decrease of 49%).
Based on the above data, there is a significant decrease in the numbers of Africans arriving in Cyprus in the last year, as a result of the measures taken that have made the problem manageable.
At the same time, there is an increase in applications from Syrians, who arrive mainly by sea and are difficult to manage, since their country is an unsafe area and they cannot return by any mechanism.
There have been 7,200 voluntary returns so far in 2023, compared to 5,100 last year. Total departures for the period January – November 2023 reached 11,040 compared to 5,900 in the same period of 2022.
Relocations: Between March and 15 December, a total of 1,680 relocations took place in seven EU Member States through the Relocation Mechanism. Germany is the first country in number of relocations from Cyprus, followed by France.
In terms of arrivals, the total number of irregular arrivals for 2023 amounted to 10.475 and for the corresponding period was 17.438 (a decrease of 60%), while departures were 11.040 for 2023.
In relation to the countries of origin of arrivals, for 2022 the top 10 countries in arrivals via the Green Line were Syria, Congo, Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Somalia, Iran and Iraq. Similarly, for 2023, the top 10 countries in arrivals via the Green Line were: Syria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo, Iraq, Somalia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Liberia. The data shows that arrivals from African countries have decreased by 68% compared to 2022 and at the same time a 34% decrease in arrivals from Syrians.
In terms of arrivals by sea, in 2022 they were from Syria and Palestine, while for 2023 they are from Syria, Palestine, Lebanon and Morocco (the vast majority of arrivals are from Syria). Finally, in the period March – November 2023, a total of 16,005 decisions were issued, including rejection decisions, decisions on subsidiary protection and residence and decisions granting refugee status. Of the 16,005 decisions, 11,579 were negative.
