Cyprus announced that it will give financial assistance to Syrian families to resettle them back in their homeland, according to Associated Press.
Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides sated that they would allow the main income earners to remain in Cyprus for up to three years to work as part of a voluntary repatriation program.
Ioannides noted that families must drop their claims for asylum or rescind international protection status in order to qualify for the program.
The government will receive applications from June 2 to Aug. 31.
Ioannides said that families wishing to voluntarily return will be given a one-off sum of 2,000 euros ($2,255) for one adult and 1,000 euros ($1,128) for each child.
Importantly, couples who do not have children can also apply.
According to the program, the family’s main income earner, either the father or mother, will obtain a special residency and work permit. Therefore, they can stay for a minimum of two years in Cyprus with the option of staying for a third year.
Moreover, the income earner will be allowed to travel back and forth to Syria as long as his or her residency and work permit are valid.
“This new program is a targeted, humanitarian and realistic policy that bolsters Syria’s post-war transition to normality,” Ioannides said.
Syrians represent the largest group of asylum-seekers in Cyprus. Recent Asylum Service figures showed that 4,226 Syrians applied for asylum last year.
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