The United Nations’ Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Cyprus spokesperson, Emilia Strovolidou, has called for Cyprus to cease forcibly rebuffing Syrian refugee boats coming from Lebanon, in violation of international human rights law and non-refoulment principle stipulated by the 1951 Refugee Convention. The Associated Press and European human rights group EuroMed Rights have both reported on this plea.
Strovolidou highlighted the use of force and destabilizing tactics to prevent refugee boats from docking at its shores as contrary to international law. The country has faced a significant influx of refugees since the start of 2024, as noted in a UNHCR report.
Last week, Cyprus declared a suspension of Syrian refugees’ asylum applications owing to the steady inflows. Over 1,000 people reportedly arrived on boats from Lebanon just this month. Cyprus attributed the spike in refugee arrivals to escalating tensions in the region.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides met with the President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen, to discuss orchestrating a management strategy for the increased influx of refugees witnessed from Lebanon in recent months. The aim of the meeting was for the EU to take more proactive measures to help mitigate this situation.
The Associated Press reveals a Cypriot official refuting allegations of forcefully pushing away refugee boats. The official maintained that their government procedures act in strict accord with their obligations under international law. The official further disclosed Cyprus’s collaboration with the EU Commission to aid Lebanon in handling the departure of boats. Assurances were also made that the terms of assistance would not infringe on the Syrians’ human rights by deporting them back to their country. However, termination of allowances, benefits and rights to work had been in the works as a strategy to deter the inflow of refugees to Cyprus.
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