It is "astonishing the ease with which both AKEL and the Commissioner target the Interior Minister for what,what is happening at the First Reception Centre for Migrants, Pournara" says the Ministry of Interior, in response to statements made by AKEL and to what the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights pointed out on Wednesday about the situation in Pournara.
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In the statement, the Ministry of Interior addresses "those who systematically and, apparently on purpose, forget that immigration is a matter of many relevant services", noting that "the officials of the Ministry of Interior are literally exaggerating themselves to manage the situation that currently prevails, the seriousness of which is fortunately recognized by the European Union itself."[/B][/LIST]
In the statement, the Ministry of Interior addresses "those who systematically and, apparently on purpose, forget that immigration is a matter of many relevant services", noting that "the officials of the Ministry of Interior are literally exaggerating themselves to manage the situation that currently prevails, the seriousness of which is fortunately recognized by the European Union itself".
On the sensitive issue of underage children, the Ministry of Interior says that "Pournara" can accommodate 100 underage children in the security zone with the new improvements made, but due to the increased flows, it has taken care to create additional spaces in other parts of the Centre so as not to cause children to mix with adults.
"We have never embellished the situation, on the contrary, we are claiming European support to manage the huge burden we are carrying," the Ministry of Interior notes, noting that "it cannot go unnoticed that the number of minors arriving in the Republic in the two months of January-February 2021 was only 49, while in the corresponding two months of this year this number tripled, reaching 166."
He added that "it also cannot be ignored that the Asylum Service, which is responsible for completing the procedures for examining the applications of minors, long ago completed the procedures for 214 out of the total of 356 currently residing in the Centre".
According to the Ministry of the Interior, "they should, in fact, have already been moved by the Social Welfare Services, either to another suitable accommodation or to find families for adoption, however, this move has not taken place because these suitable premises have not been found".
"However, this is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior and we hope that this move will take place immediately so that the Centre can be relieved," the Ministry of Interior said in a statement.
Regarding the feeding within the "Purnara", the MoF says that "three meals are provided in the right quantities, on the basis of the recommendation of the FAC and it is noteworthy that the Commissioner concerned is making a point, the declaration of a child without it being checked for correctness, when we have successfully passed this check many times and even very recently by the competent European Asylum Service (EASO) which controls the conditions in the Centre".
Regarding the sanitary conditions, the Ministry of Interior clarifies that "in the configured accommodation area of the juvenile zone there are currently 6 built-in toilets and 3 showers, while in the extraordinary additional areas the juveniles are instructed by the competent officials to use the common sanitary facilities".
Addressing the Commissioner for Child Protection, the Ministry of the Interior points out that "Purnara" is a First Reception Centre "and educational activities cannot operate in it and this happens when minors are moved outside the Centre, always under the responsibility of the Social Welfare Services".
The Ministry of Interior, referring to "AKEL's persistence in making false and oft-repeated allegations that European funds are being squandered", recalls "for the umpteenth time that the 3 million euros mentioned by its representative were indeed allocated for the creation and operation of an Open Centre for unaccompanied minors".
"This money was given for the period from 17/11/2015 until 16/3/2022 to the Hope for Children Organisation which operates and operates in the old town of Nicosia and friends of AKEL are welcome to visit it to see where and how this money is spent," the Ministry of Interior continues.
Regarding the other 4 million that AKEL also questions, the Ministry of Interior says that "these were also given within the framework of European support to Cyprus and specifically concern funds for the period from 1/2/2019 until 31/10/2020 to cover the costs of feeding and operating Pournaras".
It adds that "all this information was requested by AKEL, twice, the first time by former General Secretary Andros Kyprianou and has been provided in a detailed manner."
"So if AKEL so easily calls on the Minister of Interior to resign, we wonder what the consequence should be for those who inexpensively and irresponsibly make such unsubstantiated accusations," concludes the statement - response of the Ministry of Interior."
"So if AKEL so easily calls on the Minister of Interior to resign, we wonder what the consequence should be for those who inexpensively and irresponsibly make such unsubstantiated accusations," the statement - response of the Ministry of Interior concludes.
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