A Cyprus court sentenced a 48-year-old Syrian man to three years in prison for causing the death of a 3-year-old girl. The child died from dehydration on an overcrowded migrant boat stranded at sea in January 2024.
Syrian Captain Sentenced
The
boat, carrying 60 passengers, departed from Lebanon on January 18, 2024. An engine failure left it stranded for nearly a week in the
Mediterranean Sea. The captain did not ensure the passengers’ safety and lacked vital navigation equipment.
Cypriot authorities found that the captain ordered passengers to discard their water bottles. This was to hide the boat’s origin in
Lebanon. As the days passed, passengers resorted to drinking seawater and urine to survive. Sadly, the young girl died from dehydration before rescuers could reach her.
Rescue teams airlifted the girl and her mother to a hospital. However, the medical staff could not save her. The court found the captain guilty of negligence.
Migrant Crisis in Cyprus
Cyprus is facing a sharp decline in migrant arrivals. Strict measures have reduced the number of asylum applications. In 2022, the country received over 21,000 applications. By 2024, this number dropped to 6,769. Despite the decline, Cyprus continues to struggle with its asylum system.
In October 2023, the
European Court of Human Rights ruled that Cyprus violated the rights of Syrian migrants. The court found that the country kept them offshore without processing their asylum requests.
This case highlights the dangers migrants face when fleeing conflict. Cyprus continues to grapple with its asylum challenges. The incident raises questions about migrant safety and international responsibility
