Cyprus is now becoming a favourite destination for Syrian migrants in pursuit of a better life in Europe, reported Turkey’s Daily Sabah on Wednesday.
The Turkish Coast Guard intercepted 114 illegal Syrian migrants off the coast of Mersin, Turkey’s closest region to Cyprus, late on Monday. Their final destination was Cyprus, according to Daily Sabah.
The migrants caught were departing from Erdemli, and included 60 children all huddled in a small boat, meant for a maximum of 20 persons, when they were intercepted some five miles from the coast.
Authorities said the fishing boat was under surveillance for months due to an intelligence report that it might be used for human smuggling.
The migrants were brought to a police station after a medical examination at a hospital before they were sent to an accommodation centre used by the local immigration agency.
Authorities detained the unidentified owner of the boat following the incident.
Cyprus, an EU member, “makes it favourable among Syrian migrants, especially those travelling from the Mediterranean shores of Turkey from southern cities close to its border with Syria,” reported Daily Sabah.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and illegally occupied its northern third. Peace talks have been underway since May 2015, aiming to reunify the island under a federal roof.
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