We may not know exactly what the Mayor of Paphos meant when he remarked that “we are living under the dictatorship of mediocrity,” but he’s right when he says, “it’s not ordinary people who are increasing xenophobia and racism; it’s the failure of the state.”
The issue of unaccompanied minors is a new and pressing chapter that requires careful handling. It won’t simply resolve itself as these children age.
We cannot just place unaccompanied minors who arrive in our country in whatever facility is available—whether it’s a hotel, a care home, or any other building—and believe that the problem is solved.
Being separated from their family and home country is a trauma. Another layer of trauma, on top of everything else they’ve experienced before or after arriving here.
It likely wasn’t their choice. A 14-year-old from Afghanistan, Nigeria, or Somalia doesn’t decide, “Let’s go to Cyprus, it looks like a nice island.”
These minors are often sent by their parents or some adult to escape the conditions of their homeland, possibly with the hope of joining relatives or friends in another country. Cyprus is merely a stopover, and as the procedures drag on, they feel trapped.
Although receiving these children is a new challenge for us, the act of sending them away isn’t new. Some people’s grandparents ended up in Australia or England at a similar age, under similar circumstances.
Different times, different conditions, but the human soul remains the same. And a person’s soul doesn’t just seek four walls and a roof (though these are, of course, important), but also seeks hope, interest, and a future.
Twenty or fifty teenagers, placed in a space without structure, without supervision and guidance, without activities or prospects, are bound to become a ticking time bomb, self-destructive and destructive to those around them.
This is why there are guidelines for dealing with unaccompanied minors in countries that find themselves hosting them. Some of these guidelines address safety, well-being, and social development.
According to the Dublin Regulation, “the best interests of the child should be a primary consideration for Member States when implementing the procedures provided for in the Regulation.”
How are these needs met in a care home or an abandoned building? The Mayor of Paphos paints a bleak picture of the situation, and as unpleasant as it sounds, he is probably right.
One problem leads to another, and xenophobia and racism are flourishing as a result.
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