UN refugee agency tells Cyprus to stick to the law in its efforts at sea to thwart refugee boats
Time:2024-05-21 22:15:07 Source:politicsViews(143)
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The United Nations’ refugee agency said Friday that Cypriot efforts at sea to stop numerous Syrian refugee-laden boats departing Lebanon from reaching the European Union-member island nation mustn’t contravene international human rights laws or put passengers at risk.
Cypriot authorities have reportedly dispatched police patrol vessels just outside Lebanese territorial waters to thwart boat loads of Syrian refugees from reaching the island about 110 miles (180 kilometers) away.
The Cypriot government says a crumbling Lebanese economy coupled with the uncertainty brought on by the Israeli-Hamas war and the recent tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and Lebanon has resulted in a huge number of rickety boats overloaded with migrants – almost all Syrians – reaching the island.
Earlier this week, Cypriot patrol craft reportedly intercepted five boats carrying hundreds of Syrian refugees and migrants. The boats turned back and the passengers disembarked safely.
You may also like
- Norwegian Cruise Line, Wix.com rise; Cushman & Wakefield, Target fall, Monday, 5/20/2024
- Few voters globally worried about climate change
- Japanese PM to US lawmakers: US does not have to confront global challenges alone
- Teenagers named as victims of Nelson off
- The 13 style rules that every midlife woman MUST follow (and yes, beige really is banned!)
- Hong Kong's Messi mess: A distraction from more important things
- Students petition Parliament to keep free school lunches funding
- Baltimore bridge collapses after being struck by ship, six presumed dead
- Rishi Sunak to apologise for worst treatment disaster in NHS history