REFUGEES in at least four boats off the coast of Cyprus have told activists they fear they will die of hunger as the coastguard refuses to let them land.

Distress hotline Alarm Phone initially received an SOS from 73 people in two boats on their way to Cyprus on Tuesday.

“They report that they have been at sea for four days and some people are sick. They have no food and water left,” the activist-run organisation said that morning.