Syrian migrant arrival puts Cyprus on high alert

As tensions escalate in the Israel-Hamas conflict, Cyprus is bracing for a potential surge in Syrian migrants from Lebanon. According to a report on Philenews, representatives from various migration-related services have convened at Cyprus's Interior Ministry to address the looming challenges.

The primary objective of this meeting is to establish a comprehensive action plan in anticipation of increased migration flows to the Mediterranean island. Cyprus, already facing resource constraints, is taking proactive measures to address this situation.

The Cypriot government has activated its national 'Nafkratis' plan and has reached out to the EU support mechanism for assistance. They are requesting additional resources, including tents and other materials, to manage the potential influx of migrants.

Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou has expressed concerns about the evolving situation. He has pointed out that developments in Israel and Gaza could impact Lebanon's ability to monitor its shores. This, in turn, raises the risk of an increased number of migrants attempting to reach Cyprus.

Ioannou also highlighted that the "Pournara" first reception center has limited capacity, with room for only an additional 500 people. If this capacity is exceeded, the authorities may need to utilize the "Lakes" area, which can accommodate an extra 130 people but is also approaching its limit.

As reported by Philenews, in the midst of these preparations, Cyprus recently had to respond to the arrival of four boats carrying a total of 194 migrants from Syria via Lebanon.

This unexpected arrival has heightened concerns and triggered a state of alert for relevant authorities. The boats were initially sighted off Cape Greco and were subsequently directed to the private marina of Ayia Napa and Larnaca port, where authorities are managing the situation.

Cyprus is actively monitoring and adapting to the evolving circumstances, given the complex regional dynamics.

[With information sourced from Philenews]