In Cyprus already about 700 refugees from Ukraine have filed applications for protection and the Department of Aliens and Immigration has issued the first special residence cards, which are the "passport" of these people in the country, who under the European directive are considered as persons in need of protection, Interior Minister Nikos Nouris said.
Answering questions from journalists at the Ministry, Mr. Nouris said, in particular, that "so far about 700 applications for protection[/B] have been submitted to the Department of Aliens and Immigration, which are being processed very quickly, concerning refugees who arrived in Cyprus after the start of the war on 24 February and are counted as people in need of protection under the European directive".
"Everything is in the process of development and already cards have started to be issued despite the fact that a very short period of time has elapsed since the directive was issued," the minister noted.
He added that "with the 1st filing of specific applications, just as we have announced, within two to three days of the filing of such an application the first cards have already been issued."
As explained by Mr. Kouris explained that these cards "are in quotes the passport of these people to the Republic of Cyprus for the next 12 months to enjoy the assistance that we have announced either in terms of housing, food, education or health care."
He said that "the aim here too is to have a number that will allow us to be able to respond to the needs of the Republic of Cyprus."
Finally, the Interior Minister noted that "there is all the goodwill and intention to assist these people and we also hope for the support of the EU especially in covering the financial costs so that we can be effective".
On the arrivals of irregular migrants, the minister said that "in the Republic of Cyprus in 2022 we have reached 4800 new asylum applications only until March 20 so it is understandable that if in the first months of 2022 we have reached 5000 asylum applications you understand what the situation may be after the end of this year."
He added that "it will be an extremely aggravating picture which I very much doubt that we will be able to manage because we have already exceeded our own capacities with the accumulation of all these people in the Centres so we need immediately and quickly to take and implement and be effective, actions that will prevent the influxes."
He cited Greece as an example and explained that while in 2020 78,000 thousand irregular migrants had arrived, the following year with the drastic and decisive measures taken the number of arrivals in Greece was reduced to 4,800."
"So there is a way to regulate the arrivals and we need such a way to reduce these numbers and stop exactly what is happening," the Interior Minister concluded.
Source: CNA
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
