DIKO statement:
"The visit of the President of the Republic to Pournara, even with a long delay, should not be limited to mere observations of the tragic conditions prevailing but should bring solutions.
We expected the government, even now, to finally take those measures to fill the gaps left by its long years of inaction.
While it has been aware of the problem for 7 years, it has failed to create proper infrastructure and adequately staffed services, measures which, if implemented in time, could manage the ever-increasing migratory flows in their initial stages.
While it has been aware of the problem for 7 years, it has failed to create proper infrastructure and adequately staffed services, measures which, if implemented in time, could manage the ever-increasing migratory flows in their initial stages.
Unfortunately, these omissions have resulted in overcrowding in Pournara under conditions that are offensive to human dignity and to our country.
The Democratic Party has been warning for some time that the piecemeal and haphazard approach to the problem, both by the Ministry of Interior and the State Ministry of Welfare, was not appropriate.
The government allowed the problem to fester and the lack of control led to phenomena such as the escape of unaccompanied minors from Pournara.
It is now evident that the government, despite having in its hands powerful legislative tools passed by Parliament, failed to manage the migration crisis properly and in a timely manner. For a number of years it limited itself to excuses, simple statements and unworkable announcements for communicative consumption.
As a result:
Flows have not decreased.
Foreigners who have to return to their countries are still on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus by the thousands.
Living conditions in Pournara are unacceptable.
The ghettoization of many areas of Cyprus is becoming entrenched.
The ghettoization of many areas of Cyprus is becoming entrenched.
The Democratic Party calls once again on the government to rise to the occasion and implement a comprehensive and targeted strategy to tackle the migration crisis."
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