Cyprus Urged to Allow Asylum Seekers in Buffer Zone

The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has called on the Cypriot government to allow nearly 35 asylum seekers trapped in a UN-controlled buffer zone to access asylum procedures and adequate living conditions. The Commissioner highlighted the dire situation of these individuals, including children, who have been stranded for months with insufficient access to essential supplies like baby formula and diapers. He expressed concerns over their mental and physical health, citing instances of suicide attempts, and criticized Cyprus for not adhering to international obligations regarding asylum seekers. The Cypriot government has implemented stricter measures to control migration from the north, although President Nikos Christodoulides has promised to address the situation soon. O’Flaherty urged that these measures align with European human rights standards, particularly regarding the treatment of migrants at sea. The ongoing political division of Cyprus complicates the resolution of this humanitarian crisis, as the buffer zone separates the Greek Cypriot south from the Turkish-controlled north.