The new migrant centre in Limnes, near the Larnaca district village of Menoyia, has been partially opened, the justice ministry said.
It described the new centre as a “substantial step in upgrading the state’s infrastructure, which strengthens the operational management of migration and immediately relieves the existing structures”.
To this end, it said that it is “proceeding with a plan and consistency in the creation of modern facilities, which ensure order, functionality, and respect for rights, strengthening the state’s ability to respond effectively to what is an ongoing challenge”.
The new centre cost around €100 million, with Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades explaining during a visit to the site last year that it will have an initial capacity of 1,000 people.
Meanwhile, Migration Deputy Minister Nicholas Ioannides had said that 90 per cent of that budget will be provided by funds from the European Union.
He had said that the placement of the new centre would “relieve” Cyprus’ urban centres.
“When we have reception centres, these people will not go to towns and villages to stay, they will stay in their reception centres, which have very good conditions and work according to European standards,” he said.
However, the centre’s construction has sparked criticism from some local residents, with Elena Sakkada, the mukhtar of the nearby village of Anglisides, saying that her village is being “ignored” by the government.
She said last month that the government had promised “compensatory projects” following the decision to build the migrant centre in Limnes, but that “e have seen nothing, even though the work is nearing completion”.
