Nouris: 60-100 migrants crossing buffer zone each day

Interior Minister Nicos Nouris said Cyprus was in a state of emergency as regards irregular migration, mainly coming through the buffer zone from the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north of the island.

“Since October 1, we have been facing a huge wave, all from the Green Line,” Nouris said after a meeting of the House finance committee that examined his ministry’s budget.

“On average we receive between 60 and 100 migrants daily through points at the Green Line, all coming from the occupied areas obviously, and all coming from Turkey, either by plane from Istanbul, or the Turkish southern coast.”

Later on in the day, 23 migrants believed to have arrived in Cyprus by boat were spotted by British bases police.

The 13 men, four women and six children were given food and water and will be handed over to Cypriot authorities.

Last week, the government signed an agreement with an Israeli company for the installation of surveillance equipment along the buffer zone in a bid to stem the flow.

It has also installed a stretch of razor wire along the buffer zone outside Nicosia to stop people from crossing.

Nouris did not rule out placing more obstacles along the divide.

“This practice will be enforced wherever necessary to prevent the flows,” he said.

Nouris has been repeatedly criticised over the heavy-handed way used to drive away migrants.

In March, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović wrote to Nouris urging him to ensure that independent and effective investigations are carried out into allegations of pushbacks and of ill-treatment of arriving migrants, including persons who may be in need of international protection, by members of security forces.