Ministry of Migration cancels plans for temporary facility in Lykavitos

The Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection has announced that a proposed project for a temporary facility in the Lykavitos area of Nicosia will not proceed. The facility was intended to house up to 30 vulnerable individuals awaiting repatriation, rather than functioning as a permanent center for unaccompanied minors as initially feared by residents. Officials clarified that the site would have been renovated and operated under the supervision of the International Organization for Migration. Prior to this announcement, local residents had expressed strong opposition, citing a lack of consultation and potential negative impacts on the nearby Lykavitos Primary School. The residents' group claimed that the government bypassed proper procedures and violated urban planning regulations. Political groups including DISY, ELAM, DIKO, EDEK, and the Greens supported the residents' concerns, while AKEL was urged to reconsider its stance. The Ministry maintained that the facility was never intended to be a structure for unaccompanied minors. Following the public outcry, the government decided to abandon the project entirely.