04/04/2024 (Agence Europe) – The Commission is “very much aware” of the recent arrivals of Syrian refugees in Cyprus from Lebanon and is “in close contact with the Cypriot authorities at the highest political and technical level”, said Anitta Hipper, spokesperson for Home Affairs, on Thursday 4 April. The Cypriot president, Nikos Christodoulides, accused Lebanon of “exporting migrants”. The Commission is “ready to provide further support to Cyprus (...). The Commission, together with its agencies, the Asylum Agency Frontex and Europol, will continue to provide the necessary financial and operational support”, it added, pointing out that more than 350 people have been deployed to the island to date and that €255 million is due to be allocated from the Home Affairs Fund between now and 2027. Around 2,000 migrants landed in Cyprus in the first quarter of 2024, compared with 78 over the same period in 2023. (SP)