Boats carrying 114 refugees arrive at RAF AkrotiriThe group of Syrians included 28 childrenCyprus coastguard: refugees abandoned by Turkish smugglersEU calls for another summit on the migration crisis Read the latest summary 3.16pm BSTHere’s a roundup of the latest developments: 2.57pm BSTThe UNs refugee agency has confirmed that 114 refugees arrived at RAF Akrotiri in two 13 metre wooden boats. “No rescue operation was necessitated as there was no distress signal prior to their docking,” a statement from the UNHCR said. It is awaiting further details: “UNHCR is still waiting to receive detailed information from either the SBA or the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus. UNHCR has not been able to visit the refugees because access to the military barracks would require authorisation from the SBA which we are yet to receive.” Under the terms of the 2003 memorandum of understanding signed between the Republic of Cyprus and the UK, asylum seekers arriving directly onto the SBA are the responsibility of the UK but they would be granted access to services in the Republic at the cost of the SBA.
We possess had an agreement in area with the Republic of Cyprus since 2003 to ensure that the Cypriot authorities acquire responsibility in circumstances like this.
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Source: theguardian.com