Within 2022, all the houses will be maintained and the reconstruction of the apartment buildings in the Refugee Settlement of Agios Mamantos in Lakatameia will proceed, while the construction of the new apartment buildings in which the residents of the apartment buildings under reconstruction will be housed is expected to be completed within the next two years, based on assurances received on Friday by the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees.
The Refugee Committee paid a visit to the Shopping Centre of the Agios Mamas Refugee Settlement on Friday.
Committee Chairman Nikos Kettiros told CNA that the visit took place in the context of the Committee's visits to settlements across Cyprus.
He added that letters were also sent to the Refugee Committee by residents of this settlement that there is a delay in the support and reconstruction of apartment buildings under reconstruction and the maintenance of individual houses.
He said that in a meeting held as part of the visit, the Refugee Committee secured a commitment from the Planning Department that they are in the 2022 programme and will maintain all the houses that are in the programme and have not been maintained in previous years, most of which are on Morphou, Famagusta and Rizokarpassou streets.
Regarding the reconstructions, the assurances received by the Commission are that the reconstruction of the blocks of flats included in the reconstruction programme will be completed, he continued. Kettiros added that the Commission has been informed by the competent authorities that when the construction of new blocks of flats is completed, the tenants of the blocks of flats that will be rebuilt will be transferred to the new blocks, which are expected to be built within the next two years.
As regards the use of the blocks of flats that are being rebuilt and will be vacated when their tenants are transferred to the new blocks, Mr. Kettiros said that previously there was a thought of converting them into student housing, but he clarified that the Municipality of Lakatamia has expressed interest in submitting a request to use them as social housing for destitute persons who lack shelter, adding that this is also the recommendation of the Refugee Committee.
Further, as its President said, the Refugee Committee has secured assurances from the Planning Department that it will provide the Municipality of Lakatamia with funds to maintain and beautify public spaces, such as green areas, parks and asphalt paving where necessary.
The President of the Refugee Committee said that the settlement of Agios Mamantos is probably the oldest settlement in Cyprus, where the houses were built in 1975, 1976, 1977 and if the required maintenance is not done in time, the maintenance costs go up. He mentioned that there are houses in Agios Mamas for which the maintenance costs reach 40,000 euros.
Kettiros also said that the visits of the Refugee Committee will continue throughout Cyprus and the next visit of the Committee will be scheduled either in Larnaca or in free Famagusta.
Source: CNA
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