970 plots of land with a total area of 170 thousand m2, located on the territory of British bases in Cyprus, will be transferred to the possession of the refugees living there.
This was announced on Monday, April 8, by the Sovereign Base Areas Administration (SBAA).
This initiative is the result of tireless work by the SBAA and the Republic of Cyprus to find a solution to ensure that refugees are not disadvantaged by the location of their homes. By the way, the SBAA has always supported refugees. In particular by providing land in Akrotiri and Dekelia for the construction of houses.
It should be noted that after the events of 1974, the administration of the British bases launched a program of assistance, which provided for the construction of housing complexes for migrants from the north of the island on their territory. That being said, land transfers are not unusual and have been taking place since 2007. However, in 2018, SBAA learned that some of the first refugees to occupy the homes had passed away, leaving descendants without title deeds to the properties they lived in. Fortunately, a solution has been found to overcome the legal complications. The Department of the Interior is expected to identify the victims and transfer the necessary titles on behalf of the SBAA in the very near future.
Protecting the interests of SBAA residents is a priority for the administration. I am pleased that refugees or descendants of refugees will now receive title to the homes they have lived in for decades. I am grateful for the support and assistance of the Ministry of Interior, the Land Department as well as the Cyprus District Offices in resolving this issue," said SBAA spokesperson Claire Simpson
Once the necessary documents are signed, the descendants of the refugees whose houses were built on British base lands will be able to obtain housing titles and will have the same rights as other residents of the villages of Achna and Frenaros in the east and Trachoni and Kolossi in the west of the country.