The Cyprus coast guard has rescued a total of 458 migrants on six boats originating from Lebanon, including unaccompanied minors, with most hailing from Syria or Lebanon. Within the past 24 hours, all migrants were safely rescued, as confirmed by a police spokesman to Cypriot media on Tuesday.Reportedly, nearly 460 individuals were crammed onto six boats and rescued off Cape Greco, a small peninsula in southeastern Cyprus on March 11, as per the Cyprus News Agency.
The Cyprus Port and Maritime Police conducted the rescue operation, highlighting the overwhelming numbers involved. Notably, one boat carried an astonishing 283 individuals, including 79 children. Following the rescue, all 458 migrants were transferred to the Pournara Accommodation Center on the outskirts of Nicosia. This temporary tent facility has a capacity for 350 people and is intended to provide interim shelter to newly arrived asylum seekers.
According to statements provided to the authorities, the rescued migrants revealed that they had embarked on their journey from Lebanon, each paying a substantial sum of $3,000 (2,700 euros) to an undisclosed individual. In response, authorities detained two individuals, a 31-year-old man from Lebanon and a 23-year-old man from Syria, who were aboard the sixth boat.
Cyprus, situated in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, has become a “front-line country” in managing irregular arrivals, owing to its geographical location. This trend intensified last October amid hostilities between Israel and Palestine, leading to a surge in arrivals, particularly of Syrian refugees from Lebanon.
Cyprus has criticized Beirut for failing to regulate maritime movements across the Mediterranean Sea, as Lebanon hosts a significant number of Syrian refugees, estimated to be between 1.5 and 2 million. The deteriorating economic situation in Lebanon, exacerbated by the Beirut blast, has prompted an increasing number of individuals, including refugees and Lebanese nationals, to attempt sea crossings.
In recent months, there has been a rise in Syrians attempting to flee Lebanon amid ongoing tensions. Despite efforts to curb these journeys, migrants continue to seek refuge in Cyprus and Greece, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by both migrants and authorities in the region.