There has been turmoil in recent days in the Lycabettus area of Nicosia, on the occasion of the state's intention to operate a housing center for unaccompanied migrant minors there. The residents of the area as well as the organized parents of the primary school of the area, which is located very close to the area chosen for the operation of the asylum, express strong disagreements and concerns and are already proceeding with the collection of signatures. They also state that they are ready to take dynamic measures in case they are not heard and the authorities unilaterally proceed with the operation of this structure.
The disagreements concern various aspects with the protesters stating primarily that there was no prior consultation with the affected residents of the area, who had no information. They also raise the issue of safety for the children of the primary school and for the residents of the surrounding area as, as they state, along the way they have been informed that it is an open-type structure.
In his statements to Filenews, a representative of the residents and parents of the Lycabettus primary school, Stelios Hatzigeorgiou, stated that the choice of location has problems as well as issues of legality are raised for the operation of such a structure in this area. However, the main concern and concern of residents and parents is the safety of young children attending the neighbourhood school. In addition, Mr. Hatzigeorgiou wondered, since the accommodation there will be temporary until the unaccompanied minors are repatriated, why does the state not make use of another structure that already exists?
Referring to the school's student population that has an immigrant biography, he pointed out that these children have been integrated and there is no problem. Therefore, the concern about the operation of the structure there mainly concerns incidents that have been recorded in other structures with serious ramifications.
It is worth noting that last night, the issue was addressed by the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Nicosia, the majority of which was against the operation of the structure in the area that has been chosen. Present at the meeting of the Municipal Council were also several residents of Lycabettus, who were satisfied with the decision of the Municipality, but are waiting for answers from other state competent bodies and, above all, they want to change their plans regarding the operation of the asylum in their area.
Also, as Filenews was informed, a few days ago there was a discussion of this issue in the School Board with the participation of parents, with the views of most converging on the fact that they do not want the structure to operate in this area.
The issue would concern the competent bodies in the coming days as the organized residents and parents of the area are determined for mobilizations, without ruling out a protest at the Presidential Palace.
The Deputy Ministry cancelled the project
A maximum of 30 people would be accommodated in the premises for unaccompanied minors in the Lycabettus area of Nicosia, a source from the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection told KYPE, asked to comment on the reactions of residents of the area, noting that "in any case, the project will not go ahead".
According to the same source, the property would accommodate vulnerable people who were going to be repatriated and this property would not be a permanent residence. He also noted that the building would be renovated and would be under the control of the International Organization for Migration, adding that the issue of a structure for unaccompanied minors in the area was never raised.
Earlier, the group of Lycabettus residents in today's announcement had expressed disagreement "with the intention of the Deputy Ministry of Migration to create an Open Structure for Unaccompanied Minors in Lycabettus", stating that there was no prior information to the directly affected residents, nor a public consultation.
It was also reported that the Deputy Ministry of Migration and the Government, without taking into account "the serious problems that may arise both for the adjacent Lycabettus Primary School and for the residents of the area, attempted, with summary procedures, to locate a migrant structure" declaring the intention to follow all legal means to support their position.
