Approximately 30,000 Syrians currently reside in the Republic of Cyprus, either under subsidiary protection status or illegally, according to data from the Ministry of Interior. They now constitute one of the largest ethnic groups of foreigners within the Republic’s controlled borders, prompting the Ministry to seek immediate measures to address the influx from Lebanon. President Nikos Christodoulides and Minister Constantinos Ioannou recently visited Lebanon, engaged with European Union counterparts, and decided to suspend asylum application reviews for Syrian nationals in response to this issue.

They (Syrians) now constitute one of the largest ethnic groups of foreigners within the Republic’s controlled borders,

The Interior Ministry’s current policy focuses on two main objectives: securing EU financial aid to Lebanon to stem migration flows to Cyprus and reclassifying certain Syrian areas from war-torn to safe zones to facilitate repatriation. To advance the latter goal, an international conference is being organized, inviting member states aligned with Cyprus’ position on designating safe areas in Syria. The Ministry plans to convene this conference in mid-May to form a lobbying group advocating for the reclassification of Syria’s status, with approximately 10 EU member states supporting Cyprus’s stance.

Mass exodus after Iranian attacks

According to the Interior Ministry’s assessment, the influx of Syrian migrants from Lebanon to Cyprus has surged recently, particularly following Iran’s attack on Israel. This escalation in tensions seems to have intensified the desire for mass migration from Lebanon. “Traffickers are increasingly active, promoting Cyprus as a destination in cafes and recreational areas,” a source revealed. “For instance, migrants who recently arrived in Cyprus displayed messages from traffickers on their mobile phones, constantly updating them on available seats for travel to Cyprus.”

Kathimerini