Refugee Housing Safety Under Scrutiny
During a recent hearing by the House refugee committee, it was revealed that refugee estate apartment buildings, deemed unsafe over two decades ago, are still occupied. These buildings, part of the Strovolos 2 refugee estate and other locations across Cyprus, were found unfit for habitation following a
Akel MP Christos Christofides, acting head of the committee, expressed concern over the lack of action taken since the buildings were first evaluated. He noted that residents have been living in the structures for nearly half a century, with 24 years passing since the decision to rebuild rather than repair was made. The safety of these individuals remains uncertain, as Christofides highlighted the committee’s failure to receive a guarantee on the buildings’ stability.
The committee is seeking written responses regarding the security of the apartments and the status of property titles. They are also requesting timelines for the proposed reconstruction projects. The urgency of these inquiries is underscored by Christofides’ reminder that “we are talking about the lives and safety of hundreds of people here.”
Further discussions are anticipated in the next session with the interior minister, where the Ktizo programme—a recent initiative for revamping refugee estates—will be addressed alongside the longstanding issues of the pre-existing buildings. Despite Ktizo’s focus on blocks inspected in 2020, the older apartments were excluded due to their need for complete reconstruction since 2000.
Reasons for the prolonged delay have been attributed to various factors, including a freeze on the programme in 2013, unsuccessful bids for some buildings, and delays involving local utility companies. However, these explanations offer little comfort to those residing in potentially dangerous conditions, as Christofides firmly states the importance of prioritizing human safety above all else.