Inserts:

00:03 Report / Tessa Walther
00:21 "Achmad" / Refugee
01:03 Tessa Walther / DW Reporter
01:25 Nicholas Ioannides / Deputy Migration Minister
02:36 Corina Drousiotou / Cyprus Refugee Council
03:05 "Achmad" / Refugee

Script:

00.00

“Achmad” struggles to look at photos of his two children. His son and daughter are back in Syria with their mother, while he decided to stay behind in Cyprus to work. As a refugee, he asked us not to reveal his real name or identity, fearing repercussions from the authorities.

00.20

+++"Achmad"+++
I miss my children a lot, I mean I haven't seen them in eight months, and I was hoping that after two months I would see them.

00.28

At the Cyprus Refugee Council, Achmad is seeking help with his case. Like many Syrian refugees, he agreed for his family to return voluntarily, after being promised a work permit in return. But seven months later, that still not been issued.

00.43

+++"Achmad"+++
I am not satisfied. I still really need this permit. I just want to care for my family. That was the deal, that I can work here for a while and be able to help them financially.

01:01
+++ ((PTC))
Although numbers have recently gone down, Cyprus has seen some of the highest asylum application rates in the entire European Union relative to the small size of its population of around 1 million. The government's response: prioritizing returns and other European countries now wanna follow suit.

01:18

The government argues that voluntary and forced returns are essential.

01.24

+++Nicholas Ioannides, Deputy Migration Minister+++
There's a lot of people here in Cyprus, a small island with limited capacity. So it is necessary for us to ease the burden on our infrastructure.

01.34

The Mediterranean island lies close to the Middle East, where many people have fled war and instability. Cyprus’ own history also shapes attitudes toward migration. Since Turkey invaded the north in 1974, the island remains diveded — a reality that still influences how some residents view newcomers.

01.55

+++VOXES+++ ((all English))

Female: There are too many. Because we've only got a half of the island, only half of the island.

Male: If they are eligible to be granted asylum, then we should protect its people and show solidarity.

Male:
When you have a big number in your demographics, you need to start looking at how do you incorporate that? Are you doing it the right way?

Female:
If they stay here, what kind of future they can have, because we have our own problems with our economy.

02.22
Critics of Cyprus’ return policy argue that the country, like much of Europe, faces an ageing population and growing labour shortages, and would profit from the extra pair of hands.

02.34
++++ Corina Drousiotou, Cyprus Refugee Council+++
The feedback that we get from employers, on a daily basis, is that they are losing people that are very, very needed in the country. And they have no other legal routes in order to switch them to another status and keep them here.

02.49
The government says it is following up on cases like Achmad’s as quickly as possible, and that more than one-hundred and fifty other work permits have already been issued to other Syrian applicants – the big majority.  

In the meantime, he has made up his mind. 

03.03

+++"Achmad"+++

Right now there is no work in Syria, but if I stay here in Cyprus for a year, a year and an bit, earn some money, then I can go back, find a job there. Because things over there are getting better.

03.17

As migration policies are tightening, more refugees across the EU may soon take a similar decision.

Ende: 3.30