The head of the U.N.'s migration agency has warned that the number of Syrian refugees leaving Lebanon is expected to continue rising due to a reduction in aid from donors. Around 3,000 Syrians have left Lebanon since January, compared to 4,500 for the whole of last year, with many heading to Cyprus, located about 110 miles away.
Cyprus recently suspended the processing of asylum applications by Syrian nationals due to the influx of refugees. To prevent refugee boats from reaching Cyprus, Cypriot authorities have deployed police patrol vessels just outside Lebanese territorial waters.
The director general of the International Organization for Migration expressed concern over the decreasing support for agencies assisting Syrian refugees, attributing it to the rise in conflicts globally and the prolonged displacement of Syrian populations over the past decade. This reduction in aid funding is exacerbating the challenges faced by Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
As the situation in Lebanon becomes less hospitable for Syrian refugees, many are forced to seek safer alternatives. The ongoing civil war in Syria, now spanning over 13 years, has contributed to the displacement of millions of people, leading to a growing need for international assistance.
The Cypriot government has cited the deteriorating Lebanese economy, coupled with regional uncertainties such as the Israeli-Hamas conflict and recent hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, as factors driving the influx of migrants, predominantly Syrians, to the island.
