It said aboard the boat were 52 children, 93 women and 200 men, all the 345 Syrians and Palestinians residents of Syria. “The refugees sailed from Latakia port in Syria a week ago, crammed on a small, unseaworthy fishing boat promised to take them to Italy. The smugglers abandoned the boat and the Cypriot search and rescue center received a distress signal from the boat located at 55 nautical miles south of the coastal town of Pafos, yesterday (Thursday) morning”.
Many of the survivors told UNHCR that “they wish to join family members in other Member States of the European Union; and others spoke about leaving their spouses and children behind in their ruined homeland hoping one day to be able to be together”.
UNHCR said is monitoring the situation at the temporary reception center where the refugees will be registered and have their immediate needs met before they are transferred to a more appropriate facility for extended duration.
According to the UN refugee agency, more than 2,500 asylum seekers have perished or gone missing trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea only in 2014, including over 2,200 since the start of June.
It calls on all States “to collectively find legal alternatives to these perilous journeys”.
“A joint European response is needed, based on collaboration among States and EU support to ensure additional initial reception facilities, assistance in processing applications as well as identifying long-term solutions for those in need of international protection” the UNHCR said.
Despite the growing number of people arriving by sea and in need of international protection, it highlights that 86% of refugees remain in developing countries.
