Local authorities were up in arms on Wednesday about a group of unaccompanied minors in Larnaca who have been removed from a previous facility to a state nursing home in a residential area.
Longtime neighbourhood residents of the area near St George’s church have complained to authorities over the situation, which has been ongoing since June.
State broadcaster CyBC reported residents saying they were “living in fear” while Larnaca Mayor Andreas Vyras said finding a solution was imperative and would be accomplished by next week
“Housing the minors in a facility with elderly persons, to share common spaces and a yard with people who have health impairments and disabilities is wrong. Their needs are completely different,” the mayor said.
According to reports, the problem started when 20 unaccompanied minors were kicked out of their previous housing, the Henipa Hotel in Oroklini, when some of them caused a fire.
Residents near the care home have now complained about crimes ranging from noise, petty thefts and burglaries from homes and cars to drug-related incidents, and even thefts of vehicles, with residents at the nursing home feeling “terrorised”, according to reports.
The matter should not be overcomplicated, Vyras said, adding a meeting will be held on Monday morning.
“The state must break up [the minors] into smaller groups and make an effort to educate or empower them, otherwise these types of situations are to be expected,” he added.
People in the area are now afraid to leave their homes, one resident had told Philenews.
Another resident opined that the inadequacy of the state’s immigration policy was showcased by the incident.
One of the home’s residents said they were living under the constant threat of robbery and harassment, with the latest incident being the attempted rape of a woman at knifepoint.
The resident said on live TV “Yesterday, specifically, one [of the migrants] cornered a girl behind the washing machine and tried to rape her at knifepoint.”
Larnaca MPs, Akel’s Andreas Pasiourtides and Elam’s Sotiris Ioannou visited the area on Monday afternoon and heard the residents’ demands for the youngsters to leave.
Meanwhile, Diko MP Christos Orphanides requested the minors’ removal to another shelter in a letter sent to the deputy minister of welfare and the chief of police.
The migrants’ ages must also be corroborated because some may not be minors, he said.
Larnaca police had reportedly linked the young migrants to car thefts in the city centre and from beachgoers.
The report quoted a police source stating that the minors were being repeatedly arrested and let go, due to their age and the [petty] nature of their crimes.
Deputy Director of Social Welfare Services Eftychios Hadjichristodoulou, meanwhile, reportedly stated the arrangement had been intended as an emergency solution after the incidents at the hotel and was temporary.
Several unaccompanied minors had already been moved elsewhere and efforts are underway to remove the rest, he said.
The department later confirmed that arrangements are being made to move the minors to other shelters.
“The move is already being implemented and is expected to be completed within the next few days,” it said.
