A Cyprus court sentenced a 48-year-old Syrian captain to three years in prison. He was found guilty of causing the death of a 3-year-old girl on a migrant boat.
The child died from dehydration after the boat was stranded for nearly a week in the Mediterranean.
Captain’s Failure to Ensure Safety
The boat was overloaded with 60 migrants. It lacked navigation tools and safety measures.
The boat left Lebanon on January 18, 2024. It broke down after a few hours, leaving passengers without food or water.
Desperate Measures for Survival
At one point, the captain told passengers to throw water bottles overboard. This was done to hide their departure from Lebanon. Passengers had no choice but to drink seawater and their own urine.
Cypriot rescue teams airlifted the girl and her mother to a hospital. Sadly, the girl could not be saved.
Declining Migrant Arrivals in Cyprus
Cyprus has seen fewer migrant arrivals in the past three years. Government measures are a big reason for this drop. In 2024, only 6,102 migrants arrived, down from 17,278 in 2022.
Many Syrians in Cyprus are returning home. 755 Syrians have already gone back to Syria this year.
Court Ruling Against Cyprus
In October 2023, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Cyprus had violated asylum seekers’ rights. They were kept stranded at sea.
