More than 100 Migrants Reach British RAF base in Cyprus

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Authorities have confirmed the arrival of more than 100 migrants in almost four fishing boats at a British military base, RAF Akrotiri, on Cyprus on Wednesday. It is perhaps the first time that migrant have directly landed on British sovereign soil. RAF Akrotiri is one of two sovereign territories retained by Britain on Cyprus, i.e. a British colony until 1960.

Sources confirm that the fishing boats were sighted in the early morning off RAF Akrotiri, i.e. a sprawling facility on a peninsula on the southern coast of the island. The vessels were initially identified by fishermen, who immediately notified the authorities. The spokesperson for the bases has stated that “we have not established where they are from yet.” Officials have pointed out that an agreement with Cyprus stipulates that it will assume responsibility of the migrants even though they allegedly arrived at British territory. Meanwhile, Cypriot authorities have also confirmed the arrival of almost 114 people in the boats, including women and children. The Cyprus Interior Ministry mentioned that it is consulting with the British High Commission on the matter.

Quite noticeably, the British bases are still housing a small number of Iraqi Kurds who arrived at the ashore in a fishing boat in 1998. They are effectively stateless as of now since they arrived before the migrants exchange agreement was signed in 2003. The British bases’ spokesman highlighted that “events like this underline why it is important for us to develop a comprehensive approach to the migration crisis.”