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What lies ahead for the more than 100 refugees at RAF Akrotiri? What lies ahead for the more than 100 refugees at RAF Akrotiri?
(35 minutes later)
Will the new arrivals be able to claim asylum in the UK?Will the new arrivals be able to claim asylum in the UK?
The 110 refugees landed at Akrotiri RAF base. The base is one of two sovereign base areas (SBAs) retained by Britain on Cyprus, a colony until 1960. Britain started using Akrotiri to bomb Islamic State targets in northern Iraq in September 2014. This would be the first time any refugees have arrived at the Akrotiri base, which is about 150 miles from the Syrian port of Tartus. Asked whether the refugees would be able to claim asylum in Britain, a Ministry of Defence official said: “That’s not our understanding.” More than 100 refugees landed at Akrotiri RAF base. The base is one of two sovereign base areas (SBAs) retained by Britain on Cyprus, a colony until 1960. Britain started using Akrotiri to bomb Islamic State targets in northern Iraq in September 2014. This would be the first time any refugees have arrived at the base, which is about 150 miles from the Syrian port of Tartus. Asked whether the refugees would be able to claim asylum in Britain, a Ministry of Defence official said: “That’s not our understanding.”
Why not?Why not?
Related: Refugee crisis: Syrians rescued at British base on Cyprus – live updatesRelated: Refugee crisis: Syrians rescued at British base on Cyprus – live updates
The MoD insists that the refugees are the responsibility of the Cypriot authorities. The MoD insists the refugees are the responsibility of the Cypriot authorities.
“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 the MoD. “Events like this underline why it is important for us to develop a comprehensive approach to the migration crisis working with our international partners to provide humanitarian assistance in Syria and neighbouring countries; to disrupt the trafficking gangs and to address the root causes of instability that cause people to seek a new life elsewhere.”“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 the MoD. “Events like this underline why it is important for us to develop a comprehensive approach to the migration crisis working with our international partners to provide humanitarian assistance in Syria and neighbouring countries; to disrupt the trafficking gangs and to address the root causes of instability that cause people to seek a new life elsewhere.”
Refugees have arrived at Akrotiri base before and their experience does not bode well for the latest arrivals if they want to go to the UK. Refugees have arrived at Akrotiri base before and their experience does not bode well for the latest arrivals if they want to get to the UK.
What has been the experience of the previous refugees?What has been the experience of the previous refugees?
Related: 'We're in limbo': the families marooned at a British military base for 16 yearsRelated: 'We're in limbo': the families marooned at a British military base for 16 years
Of the original group, 21 live in an isolated and scrubby corner of the British military base at Dhekelia called Richmond village, where they are housed in former quarters for British service families that were due to be demolished. With children born there and family members who later joined them, they make up a group of 67. The Richmond villagers are embroiled in one of Britain’s longest refugee dramas as they have had their asylum application rejected. Of the previous group, 21 live in an isolated and scrubby corner of the British military base at Dhekelia called Richmond village, where they are housed in former quarters for British service families that were due to be demolished. With children born there and family members who later joined them, they make up a group of 67. The Richmond villagers are embroiled in one of Britain’s longest refugee dramas as they have had their asylum application rejected.
“Home Office ministers have consistently made it clear that there is no question of the families on the SBA being admitted to the UK,” a spokesman for the British high commission in Cyprus told the Guardian last year. “It would be contrary to UK policy to accept the admission of refugees or asylum applicants who have no close connection to the UK and it would also be inconsistent with our policy on applicants who arrive on British overseas territory or crown dependencies.”“Home Office ministers have consistently made it clear that there is no question of the families on the SBA being admitted to the UK,” a spokesman for the British high commission in Cyprus told the Guardian last year. “It would be contrary to UK policy to accept the admission of refugees or asylum applicants who have no close connection to the UK and it would also be inconsistent with our policy on applicants who arrive on British overseas territory or crown dependencies.”
The approach seems to be based on a fear of setting a precedent that could encourage other asylum seekers to regard the SBAs as a fast track to the UK from the Middle East and north Africa.The approach seems to be based on a fear of setting a precedent that could encourage other asylum seekers to regard the SBAs as a fast track to the UK from the Middle East and north Africa.
How many Syrian refugees are in Cyprus?How many Syrian refugees are in Cyprus?
The island in the eastern Mediterranean, which lies about 100km (60 miles) off the Syrian coast, has not seen a major influx of refugees from the conflict, unlike Greece or Italy. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees says more than 2,000 Syrians have arrived since 2011. Of these, just 10 had been granted official refugee status as of last December. Several hundred have been granted temporary protection giving them limited rights, while the rest are awaiting decisions on their status. The island in the eastern Mediterranean, which lies about 60 miles off the Syrian coast, has not seen a major influx of refugees from the conflict, unlike Greece or Italy. The UN high commissioner for refugees says more than 2,000 Syrians have arrived since 2011. Of these, just 10 had been granted official refugee status as of last December. Several hundred have been granted temporary protection giving them limited rights, while the rest are awaiting decisions on their status.
What is British policy towards Syrian refugees?What is British policy towards Syrian refugees?
Britain has agreed to take 20,000 refugees over the next five years as part of the vulnerable persons resettlement scheme. They will not immediately be granted full asylum status, giving them a right to settle, but instead a humanitarian status that will allow them to apply for asylum at the end of five years. David Cameron has made it clear that those who are to be brought to Britain are the most deserving of the 4 million displaced Syrians living in UN-registered refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan. The UN puts forward “candidates” on the basis of need but only British officials are empowered to make the final selection. The Syrians who arrived at Akrotiri would therefore not fall into British resettlement scheme. The Church of England has criticised the government for not doing more. Britain has agreed to take 20,000 refugees over the next five years as part of the vulnerable persons resettlement scheme. They will not immediately be granted full asylum status, giving them a right to settle, but instead a humanitarian status that will allow them to apply for asylum at the end of five years. David Cameron has made it clear that those to be brought to Britain will be the most deserving of the 4 million displaced Syrians living in UN-registered refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan. The UN puts forward “candidates” on the basis of need but only British officials are empowered to make the final selection. The Syrians at Akrotiri would therefore not fall into the British resettlement scheme. The Church of England has criticised the government for not doing more.