A 24-year-old migrant, Mbah Damaris Menemah, has found shelter at Cyprus' Pournara migrant reception center after being rejected by her family in Cameroon due to her sexual orientation. Menemah obtained a student visa for the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north of ethnically divided Cyprus and crossed into the south with the help of people smugglers. She hopes another EU country may take up her asylum case since Cyprus may not.
The Pournara migrant reception center has undergone a significant upgrade funded by the EU and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The center now has prefabricated buildings used as dormitories, a kitchen, a medical station, and facilities for processing and counseling arriving migrants. Nurses and interpreters are on duty around the clock to provide assistance.
The center is currently home to 343 migrants, including 72 unaccompanied minors, who have arrived from various countries, including Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Cameroon, Congo, Syria, and Burundi. The majority of the migrants at the center are Muslim, and designated areas are available for prayer. Police are stationed at the center, and all entries and exits are strictly monitored.
The center's upgrade is part of efforts to improve living conditions for migrants. Previously, the former army camp was a desperately overcrowded collection of tents pitched in scorching summer heat and surrounded by muddy fields in winter. The new facilities include a soccer field, a children's playground, and exercise machines, providing a more comfortable environment for migrants.
Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, but only the south, where the island's internationally recognized government is based, enjoys the full benefits of membership. Menemah and other migrants may seek asylum in another EU country if their cases are not accepted in Cyprus. The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, or Eurojust, is meeting in Cyprus, and officials toured the center.
The center's management and staff ensure that migrants receive necessary care and support. The medical station provides medical assistance, and counseling services are available to help migrants cope with their experiences. The presence of interpreters facilitates communication between migrants and staff.
The migrants at the center are awaiting the outcome of their asylum cases, and some may be resettled in other EU countries. The center's upgraded facilities provide a more dignified and secure environment for migrants as they navigate the asylum process. Key points include the center's upgrade, the diverse nationalities of migrants, and the challenges faced by migrants like Menemah.
Key points
- The Pournara migrant reception center has been upgraded with EU and IOM funding.
- Migrants at the center come from various countries, including Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Cameroon, Congo, Syria, and Burundi.
- The center provides a range of facilities and services, including medical care, counseling, and prayer areas.
