Asylum seekers must have unhindered access to asylum procedures, as provided for by national, European and international refugee law, the UN Peacekeeping Force says in a statement regarding the situation of asylum seekers inside the Dead Zone and expresses concerns to the Republic of Cyprus regarding the increase in asylum seekers in the Dead Zone.
Yesterday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in a statement expressed deep concern for the safety and well-being of some 31 asylum seekers, including seven children, who it says are trapped in the Dead Zone.
In today's announcement, UNFICYP points out that maintaining peace and security throughout the dead zone remains UNFICYP's first priority.
He notes that the force, in close cooperation with UNHCR, is providing immediate humanitarian assistance, including food, water, shelter and emergency medical assistance to the most vulnerable people such as women and children.
He adds that UNFICYP "understands the concerns regarding irregular crossings in the Dead Zone".
However, as UNHCR's statement yesterday called for, "asylum seekers must have unhindered access to asylum procedures as provided for under national, European and international refugee law," adding that "we express the concerns us in the Republic of Cyprus to deal with the humanitarian situation that is intensifying and we are facing inside the UN dead zone".
Source: KYPE