One in two irregular migrants who reached Cyprus via the sea this year are from Syria, compared to one in four last year, Philenews reported on Tuesday.
These figures set up a new state of play for the Interior Ministry under whose jurisdiction comes the hot migration issue.
The fact is that they cannot repatriate Syrians due to the prevailing explosive situation in their country, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou has said.
A recent increased number of irregular refugees has been recorded from neighboring Lebanons as well – attributed to the new conflict in the Middle East.
The Minister warned that this makes the Republic of Cyprus unable to serve people who are in real need. And that Nicosia has asked the European Commission to re-assess the situation regarding security levels in Syria.
In case some areas in the neighbouring country are deemed safe, then the way will be opened for the return of irregular migrants back to Syria, he added.
Ioannou also said that Nicosia will ask Brussels for Frontex to take an active role in border management in an effort to further reduce illegal arrivals by sea from both Syria and Lebanon.
Next week, the Interior Minister will hold talks in Athens with the Greek Immigration Minister in order to inform him of practices implemented by the Republic. Cyprus, afterall, is at the top of the European Union in the field of irregular refugee returns.
Moreover, latest data by the Police’s Aliens and Immigration Service shows that – last year – Syrians arriving in Cyprus accounted for 23% of all migrants. And this year, so far, they have reached 53%.
