Two more accommodation structures for irregular migrants are to be built promptly in the Mediterranean island’s Menoyia area now that the massively overcrowded Pournara first-reception centre cannot cope with even one newcomer.
It is now estimated that there are 70,000 irregular migrants in Cyprus – part of which is divided since 1974 by Turkey which intentionally sends smuggled people to the Republic via the buffer zone.
On Thursday a tender was announced for the construction of the “Lakes” Accommodation Centre for applicants for international protection and a Pre-departure Centre for persons to be repatriated. These will be in the area of Lakes, in coastal Larnaca’s Menoyia area.
The tenders is a joint project by the Ministry of Interior and of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works with the Department of Public Works as the Contracting Authority, Philenews reports.
The main objective is to address the problem of irregular migration in Cyprus, insiders have said.
The project involves the design, construction and eight-year maintenance of a total area of 27,000sqm – ground floor and first floor.
It also concerns the design, construction and eight-year maintenance of existing building facilities, with a total area of approximately 1,400sqm which involves work on existing ground floor areas.
