Cyprus to pay Syrian asylum seekers to return home

Cyprus is to launch a repatriation scheme for Syrian families who revoke their asylum claims, allowing one adult member to stay on the island and work, a minister said Thursday.

Migration Minister Nicholas Ioannides said the financial incentives, beginning next month, would be for a voluntary return to Syria for families seeking asylum or those with international protection.

He told reporters the scheme was being launched in coordination with the European Union. EU member Cyprus is one of the largest receivers of Syrian migrants per capita.

Ioannides noted that Syria was “undergoing a critical transitional period” after Bashar al-Assad’s ouster in December.

“The success of the reconstruction depends on political will, international cooperation, and, most importantly, the active involvement of the Syrian people themselves,” he said.

Officials in Cyprus say 2,500 Syrians have withdrawn asylum applications or renounced their protection status, and around 2,400 have returned home.

The repatriation scheme allows one person per family or couple to receive a special residence and work permit valid for two years.

Returning family members will receive 2,000 euros ($2,270) for the spouse and 1,000 euros per child.

The scheme will operate from June 2 to August 31.

Cyprus granted asylum to thousands of Syrians who fled the civil war there that began in 2011.

The eastern Mediterranean island is less than 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the Syrian and Lebanese coasts, and has long been a route for refugees seeking a better life in Europe.