UNHCR concerned about reports of pushbacks of Syrians

UNHCR Cyprus expresses its concern about a pushback incident on 14 March involving three boats with approximately 80 Syrian nationals, including women and children, that had departed from Syria and reached Cyprus. These boats were reportedly pushed back by Cypriot authorities, as a result of which the Syrian nationals were forcibly returned to Syria from where they had fled.

UNHCR wishes to reiterate its long-standing call to States to refrain from pushbacks and summary returns of individuals without legal and procedural safeguards. Such measures are incompatible with States’ non-refoulement obligations and are contrary to international law.

Any law enforcement operations, including in the context of maritime movements, must be carried out with the respect of international law, including refugee and human rights law, and should not result in situations incompatible with the prohibition of refoulement.

The international legal principle of non-refoulement prohibits all States, including those that may not be party to relevant treaties, from engaging in conduct of any kind that risks leading to the removal of a person to a place where they would be at risk of persecution or serious human rights violations. Denial of access to territory or any other removal measures without a prior individual assessment of possible risks of refoulement is also contrary to the principle of non-refoulement.

UNHCR continues to call on States to allow civilians fleeing Syria access to their territories, to guarantee the right to seek asylum, and to ensure respect for the principle of non-refoulement at all times. UNHCR also reiterates its call on States not to forcibly return Syrians and former habitual residents of Syria to any part of Syria.

Syria has witnessed major changes and many, including UNHCR, see an opportunity for recovery. However, the security situation remains fluid, and some Syrians feel unsafe to stay.

For more information, please contact:

In Nicosia, Emilia Strovolidou, strovoli@unhcr.org, + 357 99 832614

In Geneva, Eleni Biza, biza@unhcr.org, +41 78 337 8082