COVID19: UN ready to facilitate Cyprus crossings

While there is no political decision when Cyprus crossing points along the Green Line are to open, the United Nations have stepped in stating their readiness to help as COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

The UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) said it was ready to facilitate and support both sides in their efforts to ease restrictions at crossing points once conditions allow for such a move.

It expressed the hope that both sides would continue to cooperate closely as they address the public health emergency across the island.

“This includes coordinating their efforts to ease restrictions at the crossing points, when the situation allows,” UNFICYP spokesperson Aleem Siddique told the Cyprus News Agency.

Neither of the two sides has given a date yet as regards opening the crossings, though both have on occasion, mentioned that this would be done towards the final stage of ending lockdown.

The UN statement comes after the call by 1,500 Turkish Cypriot who in the south of the island for them to be allowed to cross from the north.

A majority of 1525 that signed an open letter to President Anastasiades, and to Turkish Cypriot authorities are employed in the construction sector in the government-controlled south.

Construction sites reopened on 4 May during the first stage of relaxing restrictive measures taken to stem the spread of coronavirus.

In the letter sent to Anastasiades, the group claim that they have no income as they depended on their wage from companies in the south and do not receive social insurance in the north.

This makes them ineligible for support packages from Turkish Cypriot authorities.

The group of workers said they have not been able to work since some crossing points were sealed off on 14 March followed by Turkish Cypriot authorities closing all crossings.

They are not able to receive financial support from the Cyprus government as nothing passes across the Green Line.