The number of asylum seekers receiving rent and food allowances in Cyprus has fallen to 2,000, according to sources at the Deputy Ministry of Migration.
The recipients include nationals of Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and Iraq. Around 400 of them are Syrian nationals.
The same sources told CNA that the Deputy Minister has instructed the authorities to speed up the examination of Syrian applications, citing developments in Syria since December 2024.
They said the change of government in Syria and signs of stabilisation meant that the conditions which previously supported the granting of international protection “no longer apply today”.
Around 13,600 asylum applications are currently pending in Cyprus. Of these, approximately 9,600 concern Syrian nationals.
According to the Deputy Ministry sources, spending on allowances has been reduced by 50% over the past three years.
They also said the government’s stricter migration policy had led to a sharp drop in irregular arrivals, while significantly reducing the cost of migration management.
Source: CNA
