Migrant Boats in Distress Amid Coastguard Pushbacks
In a concerning development on the Mediterranean, five migrant boats were reported to be in a precarious situation as they attempted to reach Cyprus. The vessels, carrying around 400 migrants, were said to be in distress with several individuals, including children, falling ill after days at sea. Alarm Phone, a hotline for refugees in distress, raised the alarm about the dire circumstances faced by these individuals, highlighting the lack of essential supplies such as food and water.
Alarm Phone’s distressing reports on social media indicated that two of the boats were part of a convoy en route to Cyprus, desperately signaling their need for assistance. The migrants aboard these vessels recounted a harrowing encounter with what they believed to be a police ship, alleging they were threatened and instructed to return to Syria.
The situation was further complicated by the apparent reluctance of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) to intervene, as well as Lebanon’s firm stance against accepting the migrants, insisting they should be sent back to Syria. This standoff has left the migrants caught in a perilous limbo at sea.
Amnesty International has voiced its concern over the situation, particularly emphasizing the plight of the sick and vulnerable aboard the boats. The organization has called upon Cypriot authorities to take immediate action and conduct a rescue operation. Despite these calls for help, the JRCC informed local media that no rescue operation was currently underway.
Recent political decisions have seen Cyprus intensify its efforts to prevent migrant arrivals. Police confirmed that coastguard patrol boats have been deployed off the Lebanese coast with the express purpose of intercepting migrant boats. This move follows a recent agreement with Lebanon and comes alongside Cyprus’ decision to suspend asylum applications for Syrian nationals—a decision that has drawn criticism from various human rights experts.
The unfolding events reflect the complex and often contentious nature of migration policies in the Mediterranean region, as nations grapple with increasing migrant arrivals and the imperative of safeguarding human lives at sea.
