Amnesty alarmed over reports police threatening migrants with guns
Five boats with migrants heading to Cyprus appeared to be in distress on Wednesday, with reports of coastguard pushbacks and sick children on board. The migrants have been at sea for days, with some sick and injured individuals. One group reported being threatened with guns and told to go back to Syria. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) and Lebanon’s authorities have not provided assistance, leaving the migrants trapped at sea between Cyprus and Lebanon without food or water. Amnesty International has called on Cyprus’ authorities to rescue the people at sea. Cyprus has deployed coastguard patrol boats to intercept migrant boats off the coast of Lebanon, and has suspended asylum seeker applications for Syrian nationals.
