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Arrivals of Syrian asylum seekers have elevated, with greater than 350 such arrivals recorded in two days.
Cyprus has expressed concern over the rise in irregular migration of Syrian refugees coming from Lebanon.
Cyprus President Nicos Christodoulides stated on Tuesday it was “deeply worrying” that irregular arrivals of Syrian asylum seekers and refugees had been rising steadily in latest weeks, with greater than 350 such arrivals recorded in two days.
“I absolutely perceive the challenges going through Lebanon, however exporting migrants to Cyprus shouldn’t be the reply and can’t be accepted,” he stated after a gathering with European Parliament President Roberta Metzola. “
Cyprus, the EU's easternmost state, is simply 100 miles (160 km) from Syria and Lebanon, and the arrival of asylum seekers specifically from the east has surged in latest months.
Lebanon, which is in financial disaster, hosts about 800,000 UN-registered Syrian refugees, however officers estimate the actual quantity is much greater, between 1.5 and two million.
In line with the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), roughly 90 % of Syrian refugees in Lebanon reside beneath the intense poverty line.
In proportion to its inhabitants, Cyprus has registered the very best variety of purposes for asylum in recent times in comparison with different EU member states.
A mean of 30 individuals a day have arrived on the island for the reason that starting of the yr, based on information compiled by the UN refugee physique UNHCR.
Nicosia desires the EU to contemplate declaring elements of war-torn Syria secure, permitting the return of asylum seekers arriving in neighboring nations.
Syria has been at conflict since 2011 after protests in opposition to the federal government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad started. Al-Assad regained management of two-thirds of the nation with the assistance of his allies – Russia, Iran and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
The northwest continues to be beneath the management of opposition forces.
Final month, EU Commissioner Margaritis Schinas stated the EU may attain a cope with Lebanon to stem the outflow of refugees and asylum seekers, after Cyprus complained that the state of affairs was resulting from a surge in arrivals from the Center East. He’s being hit by floods.
The EU has signed agreements with a lot of nations to assist cope with the rising migration burden and, finally, stem the unfold throughout the bloc's 27 member states. Rights teams have sharply criticized the settlement.