F.A.Q.’s

People experiencing involuntary displacement are often referred to as refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced people (IDP).

Refugees are people who have been uprooted from their homes and forced to seek refuge in foreign country. The word can also refer to a specific legal status that is given to some forcibly displaced people.

Refugee status can be given by a national government hosting refugees or by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The United Nations and most national governments refer to the following definition to assess whether someone qualifies for refugee status.

“A refugee is someone who owing to a well‐founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.” (UNHCR)

In most developed nations, when a host government officially recognizes someone as a refugee, it gives that person the right to permanent residency, access to public and social services and protection from deportation.

However, 80% of the world’s refugees are in developing nations. Few of these countries can afford to offer a status that includes access to employment and social services. They often rely on the United Nations to care for those seeking refuge within their borders until a permanent solution can be found.

“The terms asylum‐seeker and refugee are often confused: an asylum‐seeker is someone who says he or she is a refugee, but whose claim has not yet been definitively evaluated.” (UNHCR)

Asylum‐seekers are people who request permanent refuge in a foreign country. If their case is approved, they receive refugee status.

45.2 million. The number includes refugees, internally displaced persons (IDP), asylum‐seekers and stateless persons.

-48% of the world’s refugees are women and girls.

-46% of the world’s refugees are under 18 years old.

-80% of the world’s refugees are hosted by developing countries.

The Oasis Project is a non-profit funded by donations and grants.

The Bible is filled with Scriptures about the treatment of the “alien” and “stranger” in our midst, which can be translated into the treatment of modern day refugees and asylum seekers:

“You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord. ‘And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. ³⁴ The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.  ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measurement of length, weight, or volume.” (Leviticus 19:32-35)

“He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners.” (Deut. 10:18-89)

“The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed down; The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down. The Lord shall reign forever— Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 146:8-10)

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” (Matthew 25:31-46)

The following are advocacy agencies for refugees/ asylum seekers in Cyprus:

Kisa

Future Worlds

Larnaka District Welfare Office

Address: 23-25, Piliou
6301 Larnaka,
Cyprus

Telephone: +357 24800101
Fax: +357 24304876
Email: larnaca.dwo@sws.mlsi.gov.cy