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:
Related suggestion:
China initiates program to boost employment among college graduatesGerman students experience traditional tea culture in ChinaScientists develop new artificial leafChina's Mars rover detects irregular wedges beneath red planetChina's space environment monitoring satellites sent into spaceMegan Fox shows off new blue hair as she arrives to Coachella party in Daisy Dukes and sexy thighMomofuku backs down from 'chile crunch' trademark warChina initiates program to boost employment among college graduatesChinese researchers uncover secrets behind adult fireflies' light organsIt's almost April 15. Here's how to reduce stress and get your taxes done
3.4589s , 6491.2734375 kb
Copyright © 2024 Powered by Refugee agency chief warns that the number of Syrians leaving Lebanon is likely to rise ,Culture Currents news portal