Author
The Refugee Law allows relatives, advocates or legal advisors, representatives of UNHCR and formally operating NGOs to communicate with the residents of the reception centre.[1] Visits of any of the official bodies must be notified to the Asylum Service. Visitors are required to register at the entrance of the reception centre. There is no limitation to the number of visits each asylum seeker can have. However, due to COVID-19 related measures, access of visitors to the Centre was prohibited for prolonged periods of time.[2]
Asylum seekers residing in the reception centre communicate with the aforementioned actors either via phone calls or through physical visits to their offices. However, given the remote location of the reception centre, transportation to the major cities including Nicosia is often inconvenient and the public transportation vouchers offered by the administration of the reception centre are subjected to justifications (e.g., limitations may apply if the visit concerns non-governmental sectors/personal visits).[3] Asylum seekers residing in reception centres usually rely on their personal mobiles for communication.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, access to Reception Centres was prohibited for certain periods. In 2021, access was overall allowed.
[1] Article 9IΔ(6) Refugee Law.
[2] Information obtained by CyRC
[3] According to information obtained by CyRC.