Cyprus: Cypriot authorities conducted a successful rescue operation on Sunday, saving 86 migrants whose boat faced difficulties 12 nautical miles off the southeastern coast of the Mediterranean island. The Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) led the operation, bringing 61 men, six women, and 19 children safely to shore. The migrants are anticipated to be transferred to a migrant reception center near Nicosia, the capital.
A marine police patrol boat and two speedboats collaborated in the rescue off Cape Greco, close to the resort town of Ayia Napa. While details regarding the migrants' nationalities and their boat's origin are currently unavailable, the incident mirrors another rescue on August 15, where Cypriot authorities saved 60 distressed migrants in the same area.
This year has witnessed an elevated influx of migrants arriving by boat, as authorities report a 60 percent surge in arrivals during the first five months compared to the same period last year. The Aliens and Immigration Unit indicated that a significant number of irregular migrants use boats departing from the Syrian port of Tartus. These vessels are often detected near Cape Greco.
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As a European Union member, Cyprus contends that it lies on the frontline of the Mediterranean migrant route, with asylum-seekers constituting 5 percent of the population in government-controlled areas—marking the highest proportion within the bloc. The island has ramped up its efforts to address the situation, as returns of failed asylum seekers this year have already surpassed 4,370, a substantial increase from the 2,353 recorded in 2022. Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou shared this information last month, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
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