:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/grupoclarin/6QRRE7GX2VCB7KVYFDNZHOCKJQ.jpg "Cyprus rescues 60 Syrian migrants trapped on a boat for 6 days. Several have been hospitalized")
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — At least seven people were hospitalized after Cypriot police rescued 60 Syrian migrants found aboard a rickety wooden boat about 55 kilometers (34 miles) off the coast on the southeastern tip of the island nation, authorities said Wednesday.
The people had been at sea for six days.
Police and army helicopters airlifted three children and four adults to a hospital after a passing merchant ship notified Cypriot authorities of the boat’s presence off the island’s coast before dawn.
Three of the children and one adult appeared to have fainted, while the other three adults had fractures to their lower extremities, according to police.
The boat was towed to the port where the other migrants received medical attention.
Authorities said the boat left Lebanon on Jan. 18, and the migrants appeared to have run out of food and water.
The coast of Lebanon is about 168 kilometers (105 miles) from Cyprus.
Although in general terms, the arrival of migrants to Cyprus has been significantly reduced, arrivals by sea almost quadrupled, going from 937 in 2022 to 3,889 in 2023. Almost all migrants are of Syrian origin, according to official figures of the Ministry of the Interior.
Earlier this month, Cyprus Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou suggested to European Union Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson that the bloc reassess the security of certain areas inside Syria to allow for the repatriation of migrants from that country. .