Boats with migrants continue to arrive in Cyprus
In the Republic of Cyprus, new boats with illegal migrants continue to arrive. Over the past few days, two more ships carrying 110 refugees arrived in the country by sea.
Another boat with illegal immigrants was spotted by the republic's radars at sea near Cape Greco yesterday evening. There were 73 people on board the boat, all from Syria. Coastguard and marine police vessels were dispatched to intercept them. The arriving migrants were taken to Larnaca port. The competent authorities of the republic began registering passenger data, after which they were transferred to the first refugee reception center "Pournara" in Kokkinotrimithia.
In addition, it is reported that on Monday morning, a minor teenager - the presumed helmsman of the boat with migrants that arrived on the island on Sunday - was arrested. There were 37 illegal migrants on board the vessel. They were also transported by the port and marine police vessels to Larnaca port.
Recall that earlier it was reported that Cypriot authorities suspended the process of considering applications from Syrian migrants for refugee status.
Cyprus is in a "state of crisis" due to the increasing number of migrants arriving on the island. The President of the country, Nikos Christodoulides, has already appealed to the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to intervene in the situation.