Cypriot authorities announced on Sunday that they had rescued 86 migrants who were on board a boat in difficulty off the southeastern coast of the Mediterranean island.
The Joint Relief Coordination Center (JRCC) said in a statement that the rescue operation brought ashore 61 men, six women and 19 children, all safe and sound.
A maritime police patrol boat and two speedboats took part in the operation off Cape Greco, near the seaside resort of Ayia Napa, the JRCC said.
They should be transferred to a reception center for migrants located in the suburbs of the capital Nicosia.
No information has been released regarding the nationality of the migrants or the departure point of the boat.
On August 15, the Cypriot authorities had rescued 60 migrants in distress in the same area.
The number of migrants arriving by boat has increased in 2023, according to the island’s authorities, with a 60% increase recorded in the first five months compared to the same period in 2022.
Most illegal migrants arriving on the island by sea board boats in the Syrian port of Tartous, which are usually spotted off Cape Greco, according to immigration authorities.
Claiming to be on the front line of migration flows within the European Union, Cyprus has for years been calling for more funds and political support from Brussels to manage this issue.
Between April and June, 2,381 asylum applications were filed.
The Republic of Cyprus exercises its authority only over the southern part of the island, the northern part having escaped its control since its invasion in 1974 by Turkey.
Authorities say asylum seekers represent 5% of the 915,000 inhabitants of the southern part of the island.
08/21/2023 08:41:35 – Nicosia (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
