31/12/2023

On December 11, 2023, a group of 85 people, including 50 women and children, embarked on an irregular journey from Lebanon via boat. The majority are Syrians, with others being Lebanese. As reported by the families, the migrants had reached Cypriot territorial waters on December 12, 2023, distressingly, no further information has emerged regarding their whereabouts.

Families suspect that the individuals were arrested by Cypriot authorities. Information from an organization indicate their detention in Cyprus. Some families’ members in Cyprus have inquired about the missing persons with the Cypriot authorities, but to no avail.

In a bid to ascertain the fate and whereabouts of the disappeared, on December 31, 2023 Cedar Centre for Legal Studies (CCLS) submitted a list of 75 from among 85 individuals to the Working Group of Enforced Disappearance. We urgently implore Cypriot authorities and neighboring countries to transparently disclose any information regarding the whereabouts of these missing individuals. The families are desperate for answers, and time is of the essence.

On January 2, 2024, a complaint was submitted by the legal team of Cedar Centre to the Lebanese Cassation Public Prosecution of the disappearance of a group of 75  migrants (Lebanese and Syrians) among 85 from a boat sailed from Lebanon. The legal team reported a copy of the complaint to to the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to open an investigation into the fate of their disappearance. On January 3, 2024, Cedar Centre reported the disappearance of the group of migrants to the UNHCR office in Beirut, who communicated the UNHCR in Cyrus. On January 16, 2024, Cedar Centre reported the disappearance of migrants with the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Beirut.

Irregular sea journeys from Lebanon have become a notable phenomenon, marked by a complex intersection of socio-economic factors, regional conflicts, and migration patterns. The Mediterranean route serves as a conduit for individuals seeking alternative pathways, often escaping the economic hardships and political instability prevalent in Lebanon. The irregular nature of these sea trips points to the desperation and limited options faced by those willing to undertake such perilous journeys. This trend underscores the urgent need for comprehensive regional cooperation, addressing root causes, and implementing humanitarian solutions to ensure the safety and well-being of those embarking on these risky endeavors.

Update: On March 15, 2024, the Cypriot authorities replied to the UN Working Group of Enforced Disappearance that on December 17, 2023, Cypriot authorities, including the Aliens and Immigration Service, the Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre (JRCC), and the Asylum Service, received an alert about a vessel with 85 migrants that had departed from Lebanon on December 11. Relatives last communicated with the migrants on December 12. The JRCC sent out emergency broadcasts for information about a vessel in distress, but none was received. On December 20, Syrian asylum seekers in Cyprus reported that their relatives had set off from Tartus, Syria, not Lebanon, and communication was lost two hours after their midnight departure on December 11-12. Despite limited cooperation from informants, phone numbers of the missing were eventually shared on January 10, 2024, and it was confirmed these devices never received a signal through Cyprus’s telecommunications network. The Port and Marine Police Unit (PMPU) conducted extensive patrols along the territorial waters and shores, especially in Famagusta and Larnaca, but found no evidence of the missing vessel. The Cyprus Police informed the embassies of Syria and Lebanon and UNHCR, which provided a list of missing persons similar to one already held. Interpol Nicosia notified its counterparts in Damascus and Beirut, with no responses, and the Cyprus EUROSUR National Coordination Centre alerted Greek, Italian, and Maltese centers, none of which had additional information. Meanwhile, three other vessels from Tartus with 170 migrants were found and processed on Cyprus shores on December 12, but inquiries with rescued migrants revealed no sightings of the missing fourth vessel.