In Cyprus, the search for a missing 13-year-old teenager from a state shelter enters its sixth day

In Nicosia, large-scale searches continue for 13-year-old Syrian refugee Majed Alashtar, who disappeared without a trace on August 6 from a state shelter for children deprived of parental care. Today marks the sixth day since his disappearance, and the boy’s whereabouts remain unknown.

According to the police, the boy is about 165 cm tall, of slim build, with short curly dark brown hair. On the day of his disappearance, he left the shelter’s premises and has not been seen since.

The disappearance has caused serious concern among parents and teachers, who fear that bullying by older teenagers living in the same shelter may have been the cause. According to the mother of a classmate, Majed was a calm, capable student who quickly learned Greek and studied with interest. He graduated from primary school in June and was preparing to move on to secondary school.

Parents and teachers have sent a collective appeal to the Commissioner for Children’s Rights and the Minister of Education, demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the disappearance, as well as an inspection of the living conditions of children in similar institutions.

The Nicosia police have deployed all available resources: investigators from the Criminal Investigation Department are working on the case, possible witnesses are being questioned, video recordings and incoming information are being analyzed. The authorities are urging anyone with information about Majed’s whereabouts to contact Nicosia police at 22802222, the nearest station, or the citizens’ hotline at 1460.