The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Mr. Alexis Vafiadis, the Minister of Justice and Public Order Mr. Marios Hartsiotis and the Deputy Minister of Immigration and International Protection Dr. Ioannides visited the construction site of the "Limnes" Accommodation and Pre-removal centre, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The ministers were briefed on the progress of the construction works. The project concerns the design, construction and 8-year maintenance of new building facilities with a total area of 27,000m2.
The facilities include, among others:
- A Temporary Accommodation Centre with a capacity of approximately 1,000 people.
- The idea is for the centre to host persons awaiting the examination of their asylum application which currently in Cyprus takes between one to three months.
- A Pre-Removal Centre, with a capacity of approximately 800 persons, which will house foreigners ready for repatriation. Common areas for activities, services, sports facilities, recreational/games areas, religious services, communal gardens and outdoor parking.
The Minister of Justice and Public Order Mr. Hartsiotis noted that the completion of the centre will enable the persons currently accommodated in Menogeia to be transferred to Limnes, so that all the relevant changes can be made to the Centre in Menogeia to accommodate both the detention facilities and the wider juvenile detention area early next year.