Decades after their own displacement, Maronites in Cyprus open homes and hearts to a new generation of Lebanese refugees.
NICOSIA, CYPRUS — In a poignant twist of history, Cyprus’ small Maronite community—descendants of Lebanese Christians who fled civil war decades ago—is now sheltering a fresh wave of displaced families escaping Lebanon’s economic collapse and political turmoil.
Since 2019, Lebanon’s unprecedented crisis has pushed over 300,000 people to emigrate, with many finding refuge in Cyprus, just 200 kilometers away. Among them are professionals, students, and elderly citizens who recount harrowing journeys to survive.
A Community Giving Back
The Maronites of Cyprus, numbering around 6,000, know the pain of displacement all too well. Their ancestors arrived in the 1970s during Lebanon’s 15-year civil war. Today, they’re repaying that legacy by offering housing, jobs, and cultural solidarity to new arrivals.
“We were refugees once. Now it’s our turn to help,” says Elias Youssef, a Maronite priest in Nicosia whose church runs a food bank and legal aid service for Lebanese migrants.
Georgia Markou, Cypriot Maronite and director of the Cypriot Maronite Choir, directs rehearsals at the Maronite Archbishopric of Cyprus in Nicosia, Cyprus [Giacomo Sini/Al Jazeera]
Despite Cyprus’ strict immigration policies, the Maronite community has lobbied for visa concessions and work permits. Many Lebanese arrive on student or tourist visas, then rely on informal networks to secure housing and employment.
“Without the Maronites, I’d be lost,” admits Mira Khalaf, a Beirut-born pharmacist now working in a Nicosia clinic. “They don’t just give you a bed—they treat you as family.”
Challenges Ahead
With Lebanon’s crisis worsening, Cyprus faces growing pressure to accommodate more arrivals. While the Maronite community remains resilient, locals warn that resources are thinning. “We’ll help as long as we can,” says Youssef, “but the world must not forget Lebanon.”
