Cyprus suspends processing of Syrian asylum applications as boatloads of refugees continue arriving
Time:2024-05-21 08:41:11 Source:businessViews(143)
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus said Saturday it’s suspending processing all asylum applications by Syrian nationals because large numbers of refugees from the war-torn country continue to reach the island nation by boat, primarily from Lebanon.
In a written statement, the Cypriot government said the suspension is also partly because of ongoing efforts to get the European Union to redesignate some areas of the war-torn country as safe zones to enable repatriations.
The drastic step comes in the wake of Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides’ visit to Lebanon earlier week to appeal to authorities there to stop departures of migrant-laden boats from their shores. The request comes in light of a 27-fold increase in migrant arrivals to Cyprus so far this year over the same period last year.
According to Cyprus Interior Ministry statistics, some 2,140 people arrived by boat to EU-member Cyprus between Jan. 1 and April 4 of this year, the vast majority of them Syrian nationals departing from Lebanon. In contrast, only 78 people arrived by boat to the island nation in the corresponding period last year.
You may also like
- ‘The Blue Angels,’ filmed for IMAX, puts viewers in the ‘box’ with the elite flying squad
- Swiatek rallies against Haddad Maia to reach Madrid Open semis
- Chilling moment masked thug calmly prepares himself before stabbing a stranger with a 10
- Audit finds Wisconsin Capitol Police emergency response times up, calls for better tracking
- Kristin Cavallari, 37, ignores critics of her age
- FCC fines wireless carriers for sharing user locations without consent
- Confidence of US consumers continues to decline as Americans worry about the future
- Women can stand the cold BETTER than men, surprising study finds
- Devout Christian doctor, 68, who punched dementia