By Constantinos Psillides
THE 340 Syrian refugees rescued off Cyprus on Thursday will be relocated to an area near Kofinou village, Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou said on Saturday, following an onsite meeting with representatives from all competent authorities.
The refugees, now housed near Kokkinotrimithia, will be transported at a reception center near Kofinou village either on Monday or Tuesday.
The refugees were rescued on Thursday when the boat they were in sent a distress signal while off the coast of Cyprus. The cruise ship ‘Salamis Philoxenia’ responded to the Mayday and rescued everyone on board.
Nicolaou said it was deemed best that the refugees were taken to Kofinou because the facilities there were better than Kokkinotrimithia.
“Each case will be examined separately,” said Nicolaou, adding that some of the refugees will be reunited with their families in other EU countries –like Italy, the ship’s original destination- some will file for political asylum in Cyprus while others will be sent back to their countries of origin.
Asked by a reporter whether “dangerous” individuals might be hiding among the refugees, Nicolaou said everyone’s information had been documented and that if there are any such persons they would be arrested.
Five individuals were taken before the Nicosia District Court on Saturday, in connection with the case. Authorities believe that they were the crew from the boat, initially disguising themselves as passengers. The five are believed to be the boat’s captain and his 16-year old son, a man described as the captain’s helper, the boat’s engineer and the son of the man suspected to be the brains behind the operation. Authorities believe that the younger man’s father is currently in Syria and have requested Interpol to issue an arrest warrant.
The five are accused of smuggling immigrants, illegal immigration and conspiring to commit a felony. Four of the suspects were remanded for eight days and the captain’s teenage son was released.
Health Minister Philippos Patsalis who was also present at the meeting on Saturday, assured the public that all refugees had been checked for infectious diseases. He said all of the refugees had been vaccinated for poliomyelitis as a precaution, since the disease is rampant in Syria.
The Cyprus office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) issued a statement on Saturday congratulating the Cypriot government for their “swift and commendable rescue operation”, adding that it goes show “the things we can accomplish when the government works together with NGOs and the private sector in humanitarian issues.”
Government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides told CyBC radio that government officials in New York had also been congratulated for the rescue mission. “The way we handled this incident is indicative what we were saying for so long. That Cyprus is a stabilising factor in the region.”
