The signing of the contract agreement for the construction of the Mediterranean island’s new reception center for irregular migrants in Limnes, Menoyia area, is to take place on Tuesday in the presence of the Interior Minister. It will be able to host around 1,000 people, informs in-cyprus.
The project is expected to be completed within 24 months and aims to assist efforts to better manage asylum procedures. As well as to speed up the return of migrants to their countries of origin whose asylum applications have been rejected.
At the same time, up until the completion of the Limnes Reception Centre a temporary one will be in operation for migrants choosing to voluntarily leave Cyprus in the coming months.
The construction of the centres is co-financed by the EU and the Republic of Cyprus under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund of the Program Period 2021-2027.
The construction of Limnes Reception Centre, near that of Kofinou, is expected to contribute effectively to the management and facilitation of return procedures to the countries of origin.
The persons staying there will be considered as “irregular migrants” who are in the process of being repatriated.
Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou has made clear that the absence of such a place is an obstacle to the carrying out of systematic returns.
The Detention Centre for Forbidden Immigrants in Menoyia, whose main purpose is the deportation of irregular migrants, has a capacity of only 126 persons. This is a number way too small to respond to Cyprus’ increasing flows and migratory pressures.