Cyprus: Syrian woman says she gave birth on migrants’ boat

Cyprus police say a Syrian woman claims she gave birth aboard a boat loaded with 128 other migrants as they made their way from Turkey to the eastern Mediterranean island.

Cyprus police say a Syrian woman claims she gave birth aboard a boat loaded with 128 other migrants as they made their way from Turkey to the eastern Mediterranean island.

Refugees arrive at the Kokkinotrimithia refugee camp, some 20 kilometres outside the Cypriot capital Nicosia, on Thursday, after they were rescued by police off the northwestern coast of the island. (AFP)

Police spokesperson Andreas Angelides said Thursday the woman told authorities the birth took place a day into the two-day trip that began in Mersin, Turkey, and ended when rescue crews towed the boat to Cyprus’ northwestern coast.

Angelides said the captain had abandoned the boat before rescuers reached it late Wednesday. Most of the migrants, including 48 children, were taken to a reception center near the capital, Nicosia. Five of the children were unaccompanied.

Angelides said the migrants paid traffickers $2,000 each for the journey. Nine men were detained after they were found to have been previously deported from Cyprus.

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