Cyprus Interior Minister Nikos Nouris asked the European Union for support, including financial support, to curb the flow of refugees, Stockwatch reports. The Minister noted that the number of recognized refugees, holders of humanitarian status and candidates for political refugees in the country exceeds 35 000 – this is 3.8% of the population of Cyprus (and the first place in the EU).

According to Nouris, 75% of illegal immigrants get to Cyprus through the “Green Line”, having previously landed in that part of the island, which was captured by Turkey. After resumption of flights to Ercan airport, the number of Africans illegally crossing the land cordon has increased dramatically. The situation is further complicated by the fact that some of them are infected with coronavirus – in Cypriot reception centers for refugees open 11 quarantine zones, and all of them are overcrowded.

“For Cyprus, it is crucial to implement measures to prevent the illegal smuggling of migrants. Penetration into the buffer zone. But this should not mean that we recognize the Green Line as the official land border of Cyprus. We demand EU assistance without giving Turkey any political arguments. We ask the big European family to recognize our country’s particularities and the constant pressure of Turkey to systematically send migrant flows through the occupied territories,” Nouris said.