Filenews 24 May 2024
Migrant arrivals are at much lower levels, according to data from the Ministry of Interior, while as stated to CNA, the spokeswoman of the Ministry, Margarita Kyriakou, recently revoked the subsidiary protection status of 29 Syrians, who were found to be travelling to their country through the occupied areas.
Asked about the arrivals of Syrians, Kyriacou said that in May, from the 1st to the 21st of the month, 202 people arrived by sea and land, 75 of whom were Syrians.
Kyriacou noted the low number of migrants in the accommodation centers, specifically mentioning that there are a total of 312 people in Pournara, and that such numbers were last recorded in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, when movement was severely restricted, and in 2018. There are about 250 people in the Limnes camp and 280 in the Kofinou Reception and Accommodation Center for Applicants for International Protection, he noted.
He also said that, since the suspension of the examination of the application for subsidiary protection was implemented, 170 Syrians have been transferred to the Kofinou accommodation center where they were offered accommodation and food. He added that 129 of these people renounced hospitality and declared residence addresses in the Republic and left the center. He said that regular checks are carried out by the Police to verify that they actually live in the addresses they declared and that they do not work, as they do not have the right to work, since applications for supplementary protection are not currently being examined.
According to Kyriakou, the subsidiary protection status of 29 Syrians who were found to be travelling to their country through the occupied areas had recently been revoked. At the same time, he noted that these individuals can no longer work in Cyprus, and, if they wish, can return to Syria through the voluntary return mechanism.
He said returns were continuing, with around 4,500 people staying illegally in the country repatriated so far this year. In April, there were 1,014 returns, which is almost double the number from the same month last year when 595 were returned, he noted.
It is recalled that 10 Syrians have requested to leave Cyprus through the voluntary return mechanism.
