Greek Cypriot administration seeks EU help handling growing migration crisis

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – The Greek Cypriot administration has asked the EU for assistance in dealing with the growing migration crisis, with over 750 irregular migrants arriving between Sunday and Wednesday noon, local media reported.

President Nikos Christodoulides told EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over the phone that the number of irregular migrants arrived in the Greek Cypriot administration since Sunday had reached 761 as of Wednesday noon on 14 different boats, and he asked her to personally help address the issue, the Cyprus Mail reported.

“We have done everything we can domestically, the problem is external,” said Christodoulides, adding that they are in a state of crisis because of the growing migration crisis.

As the EU prepares to increase financial assistance to Lebanon, he emphasized that the Beirut government must take steps to prevent the flow of irregular migrants in return.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou told public broadcaster CyBC that the irregular migrants' flow, which primarily included single Syrian males, represents a migration crisis.

“We are working with, on two fronts for coping with the situation: one is to push for a re-designation of parts of Syria as safe and the other to insist EU funds provided to Lebanon be tied to that state improving the policing of its waters and coasts,” he explained.