Cyprus remains on the map of migration flows. In parallel with what is happening in Greece, our country receives the last 24 hours increased flows of migrants arriving in the free areas from the uncontrolled points of the Republic.
In an effort to fortify Cyprus, it is strengthening the reception areas in Kokkinotrimithias and Kofinou, while according to what the Minister of Interior said at the end of the extraordinary inter-ministerial meeting, more than 200 people arrived in the free areas in the last three days. More than 100 people of African descent have arrived in the free zones today alone.
President Anastasiadis also spoke about the effort of demographic change of the place, who noted that “with what is recorded at the Greek border, with what we have faced so far, that is with the flows of immigrants from Turkey, being the first country in number of political asylum seekers in relation to the population as you understand and of course we are concerned ".
We must realize that the flow of migrants will continue, especially in view of Turkey's decisions, and Cyprus, unfortunately, will be one of Turkey's goals and we will have to expect large waves of refugees. and we should be as ready as possible to deal with this flow, the Government Spokesman said in a statement.
"The number of economic migrants can not be tolerated, only returns to safe countries"
The number of economic migrants can no longer be tolerated because it has exceeded the potential of Cyprus, which does not have the infrastructure to receive these people, and this is what the EU and the international community need to understand, said the Minister of Interior, Nikos Nouris.
It is these immigrants that we want to return, said Mr. Nouris, emphasizing that "we are not going to return anyone who will be sent to a country where his life will be in danger. "We want to return the people who come from the so-called safe third countries and who are simply moving to the Republic of Cyprus to find a better future," he added.
He said that while the other front-line countries in terms of reception of immigrants, including Greece have an increased number of migratory flows that has never exceeded 1% of the total population, in the Republic of Cyprus this number has reached 3,8% .
"Today they have unprotected children in the Republic, we have refugees in the Republic. "We want them and we can and we have the ability to treat them and welcome them," said the Minister of Interior.
He said that in the past three days, around 223 immigrants arrived in Cyprus, of which 153 appeared today. He also said that there is additional information that a small boat has been located in the area of free Famagusta and is being monitored by the services of the Republic to see where it will end up.
Mr. Nouris said that today there are 12 thousand people who have already been offered international protection, there are 17 thousand asylum applications that are pending, while there are 4 thousand applications before the court of international protection. All of them are close to a number that is close to 32 thousand and reaches 3,8% of the population of the Republic, he said.
Source: sigmalive