Indicator history

Although it is generally known that several diseases relating to malnutrition are common amongs migrants, particularly undocumented migrants, there is no evidence or study producing statistical or numerical evidence.

In September 2010 a Congolese diabetic asylum seeker was found dead in his hotel room, where he lived for the past six years.  In the last months prior to his death his welfare subsidy had been discontinued and he had no money for his rent, his medication or for food. A migrant support NGO he had contacted prior to his death told the press that in the last weeks before his death he had to beg for food and that a doctor had condirmed that diabetics on insuline may fall into coma if not fed properly. Upon his arrival in Cyprus in 2005 he had repeatedly tried to file an asylum application but the police had sent him away. His asylum application was pending for five years during which he was interviewed 2-3 times by the Asylum Service.  The migrant support NGO stated that six months prior to his death, the Social Welfare Services and the Department of Labour had been debating as to who is responsible for the problem of welfare subsidies to asylum seekers who cannot work in the agricultural sector but could not reach an agreement.