In a tragic and heart-wrenching revelation, Cypriot police disclosed that a Syrian father admitted to burying his six-year-old child at sea after the child passed away during their harrowing journey on a migrant boat in the Mediterranean. The disclosure came after the rescue of a group of at least 31 migrants, located approximately 108 kilometers south of Cyprus last Thursday.
Upon questioning by Cypriot authorities, the Syrian father, one among the rescued migrants, confessed to the burial of his child at sea two days prior to their rescue. This admission emerged when police noticed a disparity between the number of children declared on the man’s documents and those actually present on the boat, indicating the tragic loss of life during their perilous voyage.
Survivors recounted their ordeal, revealing that the group had set off from Syria on February 20 but encountered severe challenges along the way. As food and fuel dwindled, they found themselves adrift in rough weather conditions, eventually leading to the child’s demise, presumably from starvation, according to reports from Cyprus’ Rik news channel.
Further distressing details emerged as it was revealed that three individuals attempted to swim for help using improvised floats, believing they had spotted lights on the horizon from a nearby city. Unfortunately, these individuals remain missing, adding another layer of tragedy to the already devastating incident.
Amidst the rescue operation, two migrants required hospitalization, one in critical condition due to consuming seawater and the other suffering from exhaustion and dehydration. However, the 11 minors on board were reported to be in good health and were subsequently taken to the Pournara reception center after initial medical attention in Larnaca.
In a significant legal development, a 22-year-old man, accused of captaining the ill-fated boat, faces charges of manslaughter and negligence resulting in death. Ordered to remain in police custody for eight days, he awaits further legal proceedings in connection with the tragic incident.
The incident has sparked calls for a re-evaluation of European policy regarding the repatriation of Syrian migrants, particularly those who do not qualify for asylum. Cyprus’ Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou urged the European Union to reconsider its stance, suggesting that certain regions in Syria deemed safe could be potential destinations for repatriation.
Ioannou’s proposal found support from officials in Greece, Sweden, and Austria, signaling a growing consensus on the need for policy adjustments in addressing the complexities of migrant influx and repatriation.
Cyprus, in particular, has taken proactive measures towards repatriations, surpassing the number of migrants repatriated compared to arrivals in a single year. With a focus on voluntary repatriation, the nation has emerged as a leading advocate for the redistribution of migrants within the EU to alleviate the burden on front-line states.