Refugees come to standstill off Cape Greco

Fifteen Syrian refugees arrived in Cyprus late Wednesday night, while reports say coast guard officers are in talks with another boat off Cape Greco in an effort to turn ten others back to their country of departure.

According to the Cyprus News Agency, 14 males and one female entered the Republic of Cyprus through the British Base in Dhekelia Wednesday night around midnight.

CNA reported that SBA police officers were interrogating the undocumented migrants in an effort to ascertain the exact point of entry, which remained unclear.

Greek Cypriot media said the refugees entered the British Base through Strovilia, a village in the north partially adjacent to SBA.

The presumptive refugees were expected to take a mandatory test for the coronavirus before being transferred into the custody of state immigration authorities. They are then expected to be transferred to Pournara camp, a migrant detention facility in Kokkinotrimithia, rural Nicosia.

In the meantime, reports also said another boat was located in the waters some 8 nautical miles off Cape Greco in the early morning, around 6am, with coast guard officers from the Republic of Cyprus rushing to the area.

CNA reported that there were approximately ten individuals in the boat while coast guard officers, who cited fears over the coronavirus pandemic, were trying to persuade the undocumented migrants to return to their country of departure.

Two coast guard vessels were said to be in the area monitoring the situation.