It is amazing the ease with which both AKEL and the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights target the Minister of Interior for what is happening in Pournara.
We therefore want to remind those who systematically and, apparently on purpose, forget that immigration is a matter for many different agencies. The officials of the Ministry of Interior are literally overextending themselves to manage the situation that currently prevails, the seriousness of which is fortunately recognized by the European Union itself.
And because we are not theorizing, simply on the sensitive issue of minor children, we inform you that the Centre can receive 100 minor children in the security zone with the new improvements that have been made. However, due to the increased flows, we have taken care to create additional spaces in other parts of the Center so as not to cause children to mix with adults.
We have never embellished the situation. On the contrary, we claim European support to manage the huge burden we are carrying.
But 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.
But 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.
It cannot be ignored that the Asylum Service, which is responsible for completing the procedures for examining the applications of minors, has long since completed the procedures for 214 out of a total of 356 currently residing at the Centre. These should, in fact, have already been moved by the Social Welfare Services, either to another suitable accommodation or to find families for adoption. Obviously 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.
As for what is so eloquently stated about the feeding and conditions at the Centre, we responsibly inform you that. It is noteworthy that a child's declaration is presented by the competent Commissioner without being checked for its correctness, when we have successfully passed this check several times and even very recently by the competent European Asylum Service (EASO), which controls the conditions in the Centre.
Regarding the sanitary conditions, we inform you that in the configured accommodation area of the juvenile zone there are currently six built-in toilets and three showers, while in the extraordinary additional areas the juveniles are instructed by the competent officials to use the common sanitary facilities.
We also inform the Commissioner that Purnara is a First Reception Centre and education activities cannot be carried out there. This happens when minors are moved out of the Centre, always under the responsibility of the Social Welfare Services.
Finally, regarding AKEL's insistence on making false and oft-repeated allegations that European funds are being squandered, we reply 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 to 16/3/2022 to Hope for Children. The Centre 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.
Regarding the other 4 million which AKEL also questions, this was also given as part of European support to Cyprus. They concern funds for the period from 1/2/2019 to 31/10/2020 to cover the costs of feeding and operating Pournaras. All this information was requested by AKEL, twice, the first time by former Secretary General Andros Kyprianou, and has been provided in a detailed manner.
So if AKEL so readily 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.
(BG)
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