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Until 2024, no differences in treatment, based on asylum applicants’ nationality, were observed.
However, since April 2024, the majority of Syrian nationals that apply for asylum are not permitted to receive financial assistance as part of the MRC if they opt to live in the community. Initially, they were transferred from Pournara to the Reception Centre in Kofinou, where they were issued with residence orders. From then on, they were allowed to leave Kofinou and reside in the community however, if they opted to do so, access to material reception conditions is reduced and, specifically, they do not have access to the financial allowance. From late 2024 onwards; the option is provided before leaving Pournara to move to Kofinou or live in the community without financial assistance, with the majority opting to waive entitlements to the financial allowance and live in the community. No assessment is carried out with regards to risk of destitution. In 2025, there was an increase in other nationalities of asylum applicants who have been issued a residency order designating Kofinou as their place of residency and are allowed to move out of the Centre but are not entitled to MRC regardless of any vulnerabilities.[1]
[1] Philnews, Suspension of asylum applications affects thousands, 16 April 2024, available here.