Migrants at British base in Cyprus demand help from Cameron

(Vatican Radio) Migrants held in a British military base on Cyprus have called on UK Prime Minister David Cameron for help. A series of disturbances have broken out at the camp in recent days. The 114 men, women and children have remained locked up the makeshift compound for the last two weeks. They were rescued after their boats foundered off the southern coast in mid-October. 

Listen to Nathan Morley's report: 

Since then they have been held in detention at the British military facility, but with their future uncertain, many of the migrants are becoming increasingly frustrated.

As it stands, the entire group have been given the option of either claiming asylum in Cyprus or being sent back to their home countries.

Unrest broke out earlier this week when one inmate climbed onto a perimeter fence shouting "let us leave”, another man yelled "we are people, not animals” as police tried to calm him down. A fire set deliberately destroyed one of the tents housing migrants over the weekend.

Ibrahim Maarour, a 37-year-old English teacher, is one of those being held. He pleaded for help from the British Prime Minister David Cameron. “We are in his hands. If he is a real human and cares for humanity – we are human as well,” he said.

Cyprus has agreed to process the asylum claims of the refugees, despite suggestions they are Britain's responsibility because they landed on what is technically considered UK sovereign soil.

Britain has said it will keep the migrants on their base, reinforcing Prime Minister David Cameron's statement that it will not allow its Cyprus military areas to become a new route of migration into Britain.

A spokesman for the British military confirmed there had been disturbances at the camp, but refused to provide detailed information. “A series of incidents at the temporary accommodation facility in Cyprus. Those staying there have access to three meals a day, shelter, privacy and communications, which United Nations staff have visited and say exceeds the standard of comparable set-ups,” the spokesman said.

In a separate development, around 50 migrants were rescued from a sinking boat off the coast of Cyprus on Tuesday night. Authorities managed to pluck men, women and children to safety after a 3 hour operation on the high seas. Many of those rescued have been transferred to nearby hospitals.