Refugees arrive at Akrotiri Base

A number of boats with migrants on board landed on the shore of Royal Air Force Akrotiri in South Cyprus, and the Greek Cypriot authorities are expected to take responsibility. In a press release, the British Forces Cyprus note that such events underline why it is important to develop a comprehensive approach to the migration crisis. “We can confirm that a number of boats with migrants on board have landed on the shore of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. At the moment our key priority is ensuring everybody on board is safe and well and when we can release further details we will”, the British Forces note. They added that they have had an agreement in place with South Cyprus since 2003 to ensure that the authorities in the south take responsibility in circumstances like this. “Events like this underline why it is important for us to develop a comprehensive approach to the migration crisis working with our international partners to provide humanitarian assistance in Syria and neighboring countries; to disrupt the trafficking gangs and to address the root causes of instability that cause people to seek a new life elsewhere”, the British Forces point out.