How Cyprus attempted pushing back migrants to Lebanon

Border Violence Monitoring Network has shared information about how Cyprus attempted pushing back migrants to Lebanon.

It said: “Between February 11-13, #Cyprus attempted to perform a #pushback of a boat carrying 116 passengers back to #Lebanon.

“Our Research team looked at the incident, showing that the authorities have needlessly put human lives in danger.

“According to @philenewscy, the boat was spotted off the coast of Cyprus on February 11, when the “competent […] services were immediately mobilized”.

Continuing, Border Violence Monitoring Network said: “However, instead of rescuing them, the authorities decided to push the boat back to Lebanon.

“Data from @MarineTraffic shows that a first boat from the #Cyprus Port & Marine Police arrived at the location of the boat in distress at 10 a.m. local time, and remained there relatively stationary, before being joined by 2 other vessels from the Police.

“At 10 p.m local time, @alarm_phone reported that the boat was prevented from continuing their journey. The AIS data shows that 4 different Police vessels remained at the scene the whole night, taking turns to watch over the boat.

“At 9:55 a.m. the next day, after being blocked for 24 hours, the boat was taken back to Lebanon, which amounts to a #pushback.

“According to @MarineTraffic, the boats were some 16 nautical miles away from the Beirut Port, before slowing down and changing direction.

“Of the 4 vessels involved, the patrol boat APOSTOLOS (AP) ANDREAS was acquired using EU funding as part of a cross-border cooperation program with Greece in 2013.

“Since 2020, some 31 pushbacks from Cyprus to Lebanon were reported. The actual number is most likely to be much higher.
Through its funding, the EU is complicit in these Human Rights violations.
We call on #Cyprus to cease these practices.”