Cyprus has called on the European Union to provide “practical assistance” as the eastern Mediterranean island is grappling with an influx of Syrian migrants.

Interior minister Constantinos Ioannou said that over the last three days, Cyprus had intercepted 13 boats with 739 migrants on board off its southeastern coast.

Mr Ioannou added that all the boats departed from the coasts of Lebanon, less than 200km southeast of Cyprus, and nearly all passengers were Syrian nationals.

The minister also stressed the need for EU funds allocated to Lebanon to be linked to improved policing of Lebanese coasts and waters by local authorities.

Cyprus is also calling for enhanced surveillance of the Lebanese coast by Frontex, the EU’s security agency.

The total number of Syrian refugees who have arrived by boats in Cyprus so far this year has reached 2,500, according to official data.

President Nikos Christodoulides said he had a phone conversation on Tuesday with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to request her personal intervention, saying that Cyprus is “in a state of crisis” as a result of the refugee influx.

Cyprus, along with other EU member states, is advocating for declaring two regions in Syria as safe, which would enable the return of Syrian migrants.

However, under current EU regulations, migrants from Syria are entitled to refugee protection. 

(Xinhua/NAN)