The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has told the UK that refugees who land on its military base in Akrotiri, Cyprus are to be resettled by Britain, challenging the UK’s stance that the refugees are a Cypriot problem.
Akrotiri – a sovereign British base – recently saw the arrival of 114 refugees thought to have arrived from Syria, after they were dumped by people smugglers.
The UK Ministry of Defence has denied it is Britain’s responsibility, putting the onus onto the small island nation.
“At the moment our key priority is ensuring everybody on board is safe and well. We have had an agreement in place with the Republic of Cyprus since 2003 to ensure that the Cypriot authorities take responsibility in circumstances like this,” said a spokesperson for the UK’s Ministry of Defence.
Under a 2003 agreement between the UK and Cyprus, asylum seekers arriving directly on to the SBA [sovereign base areas] on the island are the responsibility of the UK but are granted access to services in Cyprus at Britain’s cost.
The Cyprus government has stated it will work with British authorities on the basis of the 2003 understanding and has agreed to process the asylum claims of all the refugees.
Asked if the migrants would be able to claim asylum in Britain, the Ministry of Defence official reportedly said: “That’s not our understanding.”
The UK is concerned a precedent that could encourage other asylum seekers to regard the sovereign base areas on Cyprus as a fast track to the UK from the Middle East and north Africa.
Source: The Guardian