NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The United Nations’ refugee agency said Friday that Cypriot efforts at sea to stop numerous Syrian refugee-laden boats departing Lebanon from reaching the European Union-member island nation mustn’t contravene international human rights laws or put passengers at risk. Cypriot authorities have reportedly dispatched police patrol vessels just outside Lebanese territorial waters to thwart boat loads of Syrian refugees from reaching the island about 110 miles (180 kilometers) away. The Cypriot government says a crumbling Lebanese economy coupled with the uncertainty brought on by the Israeli-Hamas war and the recent tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and Lebanon has resulted in a huge number of rickety boats overloaded with migrants – almost all Syrians – reaching the island. Earlier this week, Cypriot patrol craft reportedly intercepted five boats carrying hundreds of Syrian refugees and migrants. The boats turned back and the passengers disembarked safely. |
Shane Reti defends lack of security at Wairarapa HospitalMedicare can pay for obesity drugs like Wegovy in certain heart patientsUyghur activist receives Roosevelt freedom of worship award — Radio Free AsiaUS measles cases are up in 2024. What's driving the increase?Who's really leftEaster weekend road toll worst since 2021Video from 2022 misrepresented as footage of Baltimore bridge collapseColon cancer blood test offers new screening optionNASA's final tally shows spacecraft returned double the amount of asteroid rubbleSmokescreen: Expert rubbishes govt claim of black market over smokefree legislation