Transit Migration in North Cyprus (TRNC)

Abstract

This study aims at exploring the flows of transit migration to North Cyprus by type: whether or not it is labour, refugee or asylum. To determine that, the question of which push factors lay behind transit migration in the origin country tries to be answered. Also this study seeks to analyze origins, routes and destinations of transit migrants in TRNC from 2004 to 2008. In addition, the paper analyzes what kind of measures TRNC government was taking to deal with illegal transit migrants, human trafficking and smuggling through its borders, and how non-state institutions in TRNC considered and dealt with transit migrants and especially refugees.

Fortifying against the Threat: Can Walls Stop Irregular Migration?

“…The number of irregular migrants arrested in TRNC has been rising since 2000. While in between and 2002it was 166 people, in 2003another 99, in 2004in total 163 people, 111 people in 2005, 289 people in 2006, 362 in 2007and 83 in 2008(Çolak, Aidin and Tekin 2014. It is important to note that the increasing number was mainly caused by the liberalization of the border regime since 23 rd April 2003 when TRNC unexpectedly opened the Green Line for crossing (Çolak, Aidin and Tekin 2014, p. 120).…”