UNHCR regrets the death of a young Syrian man on the northwestern coast of Paphos on 2 June while trying to reach Cyprus.
According to a statement, he was reportedly on board one of two boats carrying more than 40 Syrians, including women and children, sailing from Turkey. According to reports, some passengers who fell overboard were taken to hospital for medical treatment.
The circumstances of the tragic loss as well as the incident have not been fully ascertained. UNHCR is in communication with the authorities and survivors who have been transferred to Pournara.
This is the first confirmed death in Cyprus' territorial waters since early 2020, in addition to one person missing at sea since August 2021 after he jumped from the vessel when it was intercepted by port authorities.
"It is disheartening that, due to desperation and lack of safe routes, refugees are forced to resort to traffickers and human traffickers to whom they entrust their lives. Stronger action is needed to curb human trafficking and those who exploit human misery and desperation and to protect victims," said Katia Saha, UNHCR Representative in Cyprus.
In April, UNHCR published a new report stating that more than 3.000 people died or went missing trying to reach Europe last year, crossing the central and western Mediterranean and the Atlantic, calling for urgent action to prevent deaths and protect refugees and asylum seekers attempting risky journeys by land and sea.
States must take measures to reduce the loss of life at sea, as well as the exploitation, abuse and violence experienced by people travelling irregularly at sea, it said.
They should also, it adds, take steps to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to provide basic services to people on the move or stranded en route, found at sea or detained in detention centres, and determine whether they have international protection needs.
According to UNHCR, achieving these goals relies, in addition to search and rescue systems, on early identification of those in need of international protection, humane treatment and ensuring the principle of non-refoulement, and access to fair and effective asylum procedures.
Source: KYPE
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