Refugee agency chief warns that the number of Syrians leaving Lebanon is likely to rise
BRUSSELS (AP) — The number of Syrian refugees leaving Lebanon is likely to keep rising, the head of a top international agency working with migrants warned Tuesday, as pressure builds due to their arrival on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
Amy Pope, director general of the International Organization for Migration, said that around 3,000 Syrians have left Lebanon since January, compared to 4,500 for the whole of last year. Many of them have headed to Cyprus, about 110 miles (180 kilometers) away.
In response, Cyprus suspended the processing of asylum applications by Syrian nationals earlier this month due to the large numbers. Cypriot authorities have reportedly dispatched police patrol vessels just outside Lebanese territorial waters to thwart refugee boats trying to head to Cyprus.
Pope told The Associated Press that governments are cutting aid funding to agencies working with people who have fled Syria, which has been ravaged by civil war for over 13 years, and that this is making things worse. At the same time, some Lebanese communities are getting tired of hosting them.
Related articles
Saudi Arabia is going to sponsor the WTA women's tennis rankings under a new partnership
NEW YORK (AP) — Saudi Arabia’s move into tennis will now include a multiyear deal to sponsor the WTA2024-05-22Xi sends greetings to Malaysia's new king
President Xi Jinping has sent a congratulatory message to Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, who was sw2024-05-22- China will expand visa-free travel to more countries and seek more countries for mutual visa exempti2024-05-22
Rwandans honor fallen politicians as genocide commemoration week ends
KIGALI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Rwandans on Saturday paid tribute to politicians killed during the 19942024-05-22I was 'brokefished' by my friend for £400
I need your help. My friend K has been recently telling our friendship group about how dire his fina2024-05-22China's industrial recovery gaining steam despite profits dip
A worker works at a factory of Harbin Electric Machinery Company Ltd. of Harbin Electric Corporation2024-05-22
atest comment