Nicosia, Cyprus: Nour El-Din Amrani

Many refugees in Cyprus are suffering from precarious situations due to long waiting periods and a lack of clarity regarding their rights, amidst growing resentment and hostility within the community. Refugees of various nationalities are unaware of their fate and have no idea what awaits them in the future.

Therefore, refugee-led groups have taken the initiative to organize themselves by creating a practical movement that offers hope and preserves their dignity within Cypriot society, giving a voice to those who are voiceless due to the political and media restrictions imposed upon them.

The focus has been on establishing a network for communication and international cooperation to support refugee groups in Cyprus. This initiative was created to strengthen such organizations despite the problems and difficult circumstances faced by the initiators due to the imposed marginalization and increasing restrictions on their movements, especially in the cities of Nicosia and Larnaca.

Mohammed Ali, a refugee of Syrian origin. He preferred not to give his real name, saying that "more than 25,000 applications are pending and not being processed. The continuation of this situation negatively impacts the mental health of refugees, especially mothers and children. In Cyprus alone, thousands of refugees have been waiting for years for the results of their asylum applications, with little to no response. These cases remain unresolved, and restrictions on new refugees continue."

This represents the largest backlog of asylum applications compared to other EU countries. Hasnaa S., of Lebanese origin, is astonished by the relentless harassment faced by mothers and their children, and the exclusion of husbands from the labor market. This leads to homelessness, making them vulnerable to criminalization by some members of Cypriot society. In these specific circumstances, refugee groups play a crucial role. They provide mutual support, foster trust, and give their communities a voice, allowing them to at least express their suffering and the forms of oppression they face in a society that has become increasingly intolerant due to the rise of extremist ideologies within political factions that seek to discredit immigrants in general and refugees in particular. To achieve the integration of undocumented migrants and refugees whose cases are still pending, refugee working groups have forged partnerships in coordination with the Cyprus Refugee Council (CyRC) and other refugee groups. This empowers them to make a difference and ensure the integration of minorities into Cypriot society through the establishment of sustainable structures and capacity building. Leadership and launching initiatives that benefit both refugees and migrants.

Each group operates according to its own action plan, focusing on legal registration, community building, and organizational development. Through the project, refugee groups in Cyprus are organized, and the support they need is identified. Working together, they are strengthened and their presence is built step by step, developing the skills and confidence necessary to better represent their communities and actively participate in public discourse.

In the long term, a network of strong, refugee-led organizations will be established, contributing to integration, preserving dignity, defending rights, and organizing meaningful activities.

The Cyprus Refugee Council provides legal, social, and psychological support to refugees and victims of human trafficking, and works to improve integration and promote fair policies. The Council is implementing the project in Cyprus, while RefugeeWork Netherlands provides support through funding, knowledge sharing, capacity building, influencing local and national policies, placing migration and asylum issues on the political agenda, and achieving equality for all in a society where refugees are active and creative forces, not just individuals. Their main concern is receiving social compensation, as promoted by some political elements steeped in hatred and malice.