Construction of a new refugee centre in Cyprus is nearing completion.
Work on the major project is underway in the Limnes district of Larnaca.
The Cypriot Minister of Transport, Communications and Public Works, Alexis Vafiadis, recently visited the site and said that the facility will be operational by the end of 2025.
It is recalled that the project was launched in 2023. Its implementation has been entrusted to the company CYFIELD - IACOVOU (MN) JOINT VENTURE. Under the terms of the contract, the consortium was granted the right not only to build the new refugee centre, but also to maintain it for 8 years.
The large-scale project will consist of two blocks.
The first building will house a refugee reception centre for 1,000 people, and the second building will house a refugee departure centre with a capacity of 800 people. The total area of the facilities will be 27,000 m2.
For the convenience of the centre's residents, the area will have entertainment and sports zones, a place for recreation and leisure, a children's playground, a small chapel and a car park. In addition, a biological wastewater treatment plant will be built near the site to serve the needs not only of the new project, but also of the Kofinu Refugee Reception and Accommodation Centre.
The construction cost of the new centre is estimated at €100 million (including VAT). Of this amount, €67 million has been provided by the European Union as part of its support to Cyprus in the wake of increased migration flows.
Vafiadis said that once the facility is completed, the authorities plan to repurpose the existing centre in Menoya. The new facility will strengthen the reception and return mechanisms for migrants. He also expressed hope for additional funding from the European Commission.