Cyprus Faces Unprecedented Surge in Syrian Refugee Arrivals from Lebanon

The island nation appeals to the EU for support as it struggles with a dramatic increase in arrivals, putting its reception capacity under severe strain.

Cyprus is facing a dramatic increase in Syrian refugees arriving by sea from Lebanon, with over 2,000 arrivals in the first three months of 2024 compared to 78 in the same period of 2023.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides has appealed to the EU for help, citing the island's reception capacity is at breaking point and has discussed the issue with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
The surge in arrivals is attributed to traffickers exploiting Cyprus's proximity and the growing Syrian community on the island, with traffickers charging significantly less for the journey to Cyprus compared to Italy.
Cyprus is seeking EU support to declare parts of Syria safe for repatriation and wants EU aid to Lebanon to be contingent upon stopping the migrant outflow.
The EU is considering an agreement with Lebanon to manage the refugee crisis, as Cyprus records the highest number of asylum applications per capita among EU member states.