Can Cyprus cope with the current flow of asylum seekers?

Many in Cyprus fear that the arrival of mostly Muslim migrants poses not only socio-economic and security issues, but also an identity, demographic and even an existential threat to the country, whose North has been occupied by the Turkish army since 1974.

"Cyprus population is about 800,000 people. If we have 250,000 foreign people here, it means that 25% or 30% are foreigners. If we cannot tell them to go away because of the European Union policies, it means that in a year period of time, as they will bring their wives and kids, they are going to be more than a million. We would be turning to a Lebanon. We want to stay Greek Cypriots here in Cyprus", said Christakis Meleties, Head of Kokkinotrimithia Local Council.

The Council is near Pournara First Reception Centre, the place that shelters immigrants as soon as they arrive at the Republic of Cyprus.

"Every day you hear... someone dead. Someone killed. Someone dead. Someone killed. Someone had a bomb. I left that to get rights and peace, and freedom. I have dreams. I have a future", said an 18-year-old asylum seeker who fled from Yemen.

Asylum seekers with appliable claims are then sent to a second camp in the southern village of Kofinou. Around 800 residents currently get housing, food, education, medicines, pocket money and can freely go out for the day.

As a response to the recent massive arrivals of Syrians, the camp is being enlarged. The government also paused for 14 months the examination of all asylum applications from Syrian citizens.

Once out of the camp, asylum seekers get a monthly allowance and are encouraged to integrate.

But, in a bid to prevent further influx, the government forbids them from seeking work for 9 months after their arrival. Without legal jobs