Cyprus Mail 15 October 2024 - by Jonathan Shkurko
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| Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos |
The deputy welfare ministry has strongly defended its actions in response to criticisms from Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos regarding the accommodation centre for unaccompanied minors, following a fire at the facility.
The deputy ministry said on Tuesday it had been in constant contact with the police since the fire at the weekend broke out and had also requested a thorough investigation into the mayor’s serious allegations.
Phedonos had claimed that crimes, including sexual abuse and exploitation of minors, were occurring at the site.
“These allegations, made by the mayor in the past, were previously investigated by the police with no findings. However, as the deputy ministry, we ask for them to be examined whenever they resurface,” the statement said.
The fire occurred on Sunday morning in an unoccupied and unlocked room on the second floor of the building, located on Adamantiou Korae street.
According to the police, the fire was accidentally caused by a cigarette butt, and there was no indication of criminal activity or illegal behaviour. The blaze was extinguished by the Fire Service, and no one was injured.
The deputy ministry also confirmed that the process of closing the accommodation centre, which began earlier this year, is ongoing.
The facility had initially been created as a temporary solution, but now, the children living there are gradually being transferred to smaller homes across Cyprus, to provide better living conditions. Phedonos had previously pointed out that the centre had been operating illegally since its opening over two years ago.
The deputy ministry’s statement also added that 163 unaccompanied minors had been housed at the facility earlier in 2024, but the number has since dropped to 61.
“The closure process is in its final stages, and the municipality has been kept informed,” it said.
According to the deputy ministry, Cyprus currently hosts over 1,000 unaccompanied minors.
“Efforts are being made to reunite these children with their families in Europe through the Dublin Regulation, and to relocate them to other EU countries,” the statement continued.
“For those remaining in Cyprus, the goal is to place them in smaller homes across the island to support their better integration.”
