Two Had Been Deported From Israel, At Larnaca Airport For Over A Year

A German woman and her daughter who had been deported from Israel have lived at the Larnaca Airport in Cyprus for 15 months, according to authorities.

The two women have not been identified. The U.K. newspaper The Telegraph reports that they have been sleeping in sleeping bags on the concrete floor in the parking garage, washing in the airport restrooms, shopping in the terminal shopping areas, and even using the airport WiFi since arriving in August 2014.

According to the report, the pair does not want to return to Germany, even though they have had offers of assistance from the German embassy and local authorities.

Airport officials apparently knew about the two women. Cyprus Airports spokesman Adamos Aspris told the paper in a telephone interview that they had done their best to "take a humanitarian approach" and help them ... but this is not our role. We are an airport, not a hotel," he said.

The older woman reportedly has relatives in Israel, and would like to return there, but is waiting for authorization to go back. They were deported when their visas expired. They have refused any assistance from the airport, have slept in the parking garage in all kinds of weather, but have refused to leave.

(U.S. State Department map)

FMI: www.hermesairports.com