More attempts have been made to flee Lebanon by dangerous boat trips across the Mediterranean to Cyprus in a recent 16-day period than the whole of last year, the UN’s refugee agency said.
The sharp increase in the number of attempted crossings reflected the increasing level of desperation in the crisis-hit country.
With an economic collapse, poverty, the coronavirus pandemic and the trauma of the August explosion that levelled parts of Beirut, dozens of Lebanese have risked their lives to reach Cyprus, about 160 kilometres away.
According to the UN refugee agency, more than 270 people, most of them Syrian, tried to reach the island from Lebanon in 2019 using 17 boats.
The UNHCR said that of the 22 attempted crossings recorded so far this year, 18 were made between August 29 and September 14.
It said Lebanese made up a "substantial portion" of those trying to flee, compared with "a small minority in previous years".
The UNHCR said only eight crossings succeeded this year. Two more boats were reported to have reached Cyprus but this has not yet been verified.
Five boats were intercepted by Lebanese forces before leaving territorial waters, while others were turned back by Cypriot authorities.
"A number of individuals who had already disembarked in Cyprus have also been returned and readmitted to Lebanon," a UNHCR official said.
Lebanon and Cyprus, an EU member, have an agreement to stop the route between the two countries being used for illegal migration.
The UNHCR said that as of last week, an estimated 266 people had been returned to Lebanon after unsuccessful crossings this year.
One recent attempt ended in tragedy when the boat was lost at sea and went around in circles until it ran out of fuel, AP reported.
The trip, which should have taken 40 hours, lasted eight days.
Four adults and two children on the boat died before a group of men jumped into the sea to swim for help.
The boat was rescued by a UN peacekeeping warship and those on board were handed to Lebanese authorities.
On Lebanese TV, a Lebanese woman who was on the boat described holding on to the body of her son, who died of hunger, for three days before dropping it into the sea.
Six people from that boat are still missing.
On Monday, the Lebanese Civil Defence said that since Friday they had retrieved four bodies, including a child, after they tried to flee the country by sea on an overloaded dinghy.
Two of the dead were Lebanese, with the others a young Indian man and a Syrian man.
It is not clear whether they were from the six people missing from the boat that got lost, or from other crossing attempts.
“This incident is a tragic reminder of the desperation that an increasing number of people in Lebanon are feeling as they see no way of survival,” the UNHCR said.
“The impact of the deep economic and financial crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and most recently the Beirut blast are pushing many to the brink.”
The number of attempted crossings is expected to increase.
In previous years most of the boats left between August and November, before the sea became too dangerous.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode
Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Scoreline
UAE 2-1 Saudi Arabia
UAE Mabkhout 21’, Khalil 59’
Saudi Al Abed (pen) 20’
Man of the match Ahmed Khalil (UAE)
The biog
Profession: Senior sports presenter and producer
Marital status: Single
Favourite book: Al Nabi by Jibran Khalil Jibran
Favourite food: Italian and Lebanese food
Favourite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Languages: Arabic, French, English, Portuguese and some Spanish
Website: www.liliane-tannoury.com
RACE SCHEDULE
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm
Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm
Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
25-MAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina, Abdullahi Shehu, Chidozie Awaziem, William Ekong, Leon Balogun, Kenneth Omeruo, Jamilu Collins, Semi Ajayi
Midfielders: John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, John Ogu
Forwards: Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru, Odion Ighalo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Kalu, Paul Onuachu, Kelechi Iheanacho, Samuel Chukwueze
On Standby: Theophilus Afelokhai, Bryan Idowu, Ikouwem Utin, Mikel Agu, Junior Ajayi, Valentine Ozornwafor
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
Winners
Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)
Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)
Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)
Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)
Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)
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The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The biog
Name: Sari Al Zubaidi
Occupation: co-founder of Cafe di Rosati
Age: 42
Marital status: single
Favourite drink: drip coffee V60
Favourite destination: Bali, Indonesia
Favourite book: 100 Years of Solitude
