Amid a surge in arrivals, Cyprus has halted the processing of asylum applications from Syrian refugees, with President Nikos Christodoulides emphasising that the country cannot accommodate more refugees from the war-torn nation.
In an interview with the Editor Network Germany (RND), Christodoulides underscored the strain on Cyprus, stating, "We are not in a position to take any more Syrian refugees. We are at our limit and can no longer cope with this flow of refugees."
Cypriot officials reported a significant increase in arrivals, with over 2,000 Syrian refugees arriving by sea from Lebanon in the first quarter of 2024, compared to just 78 during the same period last year.
Christodoulides stressed the urgency of deportations to alleviate the strain, advocating for the classification of certain areas in Syria as safe for migrants to return.
(Source: EKathimerini)
