A report in Cyprus says the country's online government system is failing asylum seekers. These are people asking for safety and protection. They cannot use any government websites because the system does not accept their papers.
To use online services, people must first prove who they are in person. They need to show a Cypriot ID card, an EU paper, or a residence permit. Asylum seekers do not have these. They only have a letter that says they applied for protection. So, they cannot register online at all.
This causes big problems. They cannot sign up for work permits, get money benefits, or register their children for school. One asylum seeker complained because he could not apply for a work permit online and had no money.
Government departments talked about this problem in 2022, but nothing changed. The Ombudswoman, Maria Stylianou-Lottides, said Cyprus must find a solution fast. The state needs to let asylum seekers use its digital platforms. Right now, the system made to help people is blocking the people who need help the most.