FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – The United Nations has accused the government of engaging in pushbacks after three boats carrying Syrian refugees were reportedly turned away off the coast of Cyprus on Friday, March 14.
The allegations come in the wake of a tragic incident near Cape Greko, where a migrant boat sank in international waters, leaving seven Syrians dead.
According to a leading daily, the UN High Commissioner stated that the pushbacks were unrelated to the boat sinking near Cape Greko.
Howver, Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas and Justice and Public Order Minister Marios Hartsiotis held a joint press conference on Wednesday, rejecting the accusations and asserting that the administration had not engaged in pushbacks.
Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts for those who went missing in the Cape Greko boat tragedy continue, with no new findings reported. The incident has sparked calls for an investigation, with the political party AKEL urging authorities to probe the alleged pushbacks involving refugee boats.