Fifteen infants are among the enclaved affected by the decision of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in Cyprus` occupied areas to impose as of 1st October 2017 a tax on humanitarian aid sent to the enclaved living in the northern Turkish occupied part of the island, as their parents will not receive any milk or baby diapers which were among the goods sent to the enclaved. Moreover, the whole-day primary school in Rizokarpaso will not be able to operate as it will not have any food supplies for the children`s meals.
Presidential Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs Photis Photiou presided on Thursday a meeting at the Presidential Palace attended by the leaders of the communities affected by this measure and competent authorities officers. In statements Photiou said that “huge problems have already come up especially for the elderly and the infants.”
He noted that during the meeting they looked into ways of addressing the situation. “We are looking into various alternatives or proposals,” he noted, without however elaborating on the measures that shall be taken.
The UN peace-keeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) delivered on Wednesday only medical aid supplies to Greek Cypriot communities in the Karpas peninsula in the northern Turkish occupied Cyprus, following the unilateral decision of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime to impose taxes and fees on other humanitarian goods.
Photiou underlined that the government will support the enclaved during this difficult time and will continue to deplore this unacceptable stance. He said that the President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades has made various representations with regard to this issue “and this will continue so that the occupation force will be convinced that it cannot behave in such a way for a humanitarian issue.”
He said that it is high time for the international community to put pressure on Turkey, adding that it is unacceptable, offensive, and provocative that people who are 85 or 90 years old are treated in this way.
Photiou also noted that there are 15 enclaved infants for which milk and diapers are normally sent to the occupied areas, adding that “what is happening is inhumane.”
He said that the government and the communities` leaders are willing to help the enclaved and especially the elderly and the children.
On his part, leader of Anavrisis parish in Rizokarpaso Michalis Mikellis said that this is the first time since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus that such a problem comes up, seriously affecting mainly the elderly.
On 2 August 1975, at the conclusion of UN sponsored intercommunal talks the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities Glafcos Clerides and Rauf Denktash, respectively, reached an agreement known as the “Third Vienna Agreement” addressing important humanitarian aspects affecting the lives of the enclaved.
The agreement provided that Greek Cypriots at present in the north of the island were free to stay. They were to be given every help to lead a normal life, including facilities for education and for the practice of religion as well as medical care by their own doctors. They were entitled to free movement in the north of Cyprus.