The migrants who arrived in Limassol were sent back to Lebanon

Defence Redefined

Published on 07/09/2020 at 08:30

The migrants, who arrived by boat off Limassol on Saturday afternoon, were sent back to Lebanon by private boat. After an overnight operation by the state services and the Port Police and in cooperation with the neighboring country, the migrants have returned to their country.

The boat with the migrants appeared off Limassol and alerted the Cypriot authorities. Coast Guard boats approached the migrant boat carrying 33 people, 14 children, 6 women and 13 men. As it turned out, 30 of them were Lebanese and three were Syrians.

Also read: Migration Flows | Arrival of 23 illegal immigrants from Syria in Pervolia

After consultations, it was decided to send the migrants back to Lebanon, the country from where the ship set sail. Shortly after nine o’clock in the evening, the Republic of Cyprus leased a private ferry boat loaded with food and other necessities, on which members of the MMAD, members of the Foreigners’ Service, an interpreter and nurses boarded.

By 3.30 in the morning, the transportation of migrants from one ship to another was completed and early in the morning the private boat left for Lebanon escorted by a Port Police ship.

Due to the fact that the migrant boat was in a very bad condition, it remained off Limassol where it is being monitored by members of the Port Police.

Also read: Illegal immigrants | 14 men and a woman arrested in Strovilia, a boat off Cavo Greco