Nicosia: Asylum seekers in Cyprus receiving rent and food allowances have decreased to 2,000, including individuals from Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, and Iraq.
According to Cyprus News Agency, sources at the Deputy Ministry of Migration indicated that approximately 400 of these asylum seekers are Syrians. The Deputy Minister has instructed that their applications be expedited. The sources noted, "Since December 2024, when the government in Syria changed, the situation appears to be stabilizing, and the reasons that previously favored granting international protection no longer apply today."
Currently, there are approximately 13,600 pending asylum applications, with 9,600 of these applications concerning Syrian nationals. The sources also highlighted that over the past three years, benefit amounts have been reduced by 50%.
The sources further emphasized that the government of President Nikos Christodoulides has implemented a strict migration policy, resulting in a significant decrease in irregular migration flows and a substantial reduction in migration costs.