CYPRUS has suspended processing all asylum applications by Syrian nationals, the government said on Saturday, because large numbers of refugees from the war-torn country continue to reach the island by boat, primarily from Lebanon.

In a written statement, the Cypriot government said the suspension is also partly because of ongoing efforts to get the European Union to redesignate some areas of the war-torn country as “safe zones” to enable repatriations.

The drastic step comes in the wake of Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides’ visit to Lebanon earlier week to appeal to authorities there to stop departures of boats from their shores. The request comes in light of a 27-fold increase in arrivals to Cyprus so far this year.