Syrian asylum seekers propose solutions to issues faced in Cyprus

A group of Syrian asylum seekers has addressed an open letter to key government officials, including President Nikos Christodoulides, House president Annita Demetriou, and Deputy Minister of Migration Nikolas Ioannides, proposing measures to alleviate the challenges faced by Syrian applicants.

In the letter, the “Group of Syrian Asylum Seekers” expressed gratitude to the Cypriot government and society for their hospitality.

The letter acknowledged the government’s efforts to create a more humane and just framework to meet the needs of refugees and asylum seekers, while also recognising the pressures faced by the country due to its proximity to conflict zones.

It also called for a reduction in the processing time for asylum applications, as it highlighted that a suspension of asylum application assessments for individuals of Syrian origin, effective from April 2024, has affected approximately 10,000 applications.

The group said that the current situation prevents Syrian asylum seekers from obtaining driving licenses or signing monthly contracts with telecommunications companies. Additionally, the group suggested reducing the waiting time for access to employment.