Instructions for gradually increasing the capacity of the First Reception Center "Pournara" to host more people as well as to strengthen the staffing of the Center, in order to speed up the application examination process, were given today by the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Konstantinos Ioannou.
During an inter-service meeting, with the participation of the competent Services and Departments of the Ministry, Mr. Ioannou received a thorough briefing on the level of preparedness for the management of mass flows of immigrants, in light of the recent increase in arrivals due to the state of emergency in the Middle East.
At the meeting, it was decided to take all the necessary actions, in order to gradually increase the possibility of hosting an additional 1.000 people at the "Pournara" Center.
In addition, instructions were given such as, in consultation with the Ministries of Justice and Health, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and the Police, to strengthen the staffing of the Services located at the Center (Medical Services, Social Welfare Services, Aliens and Immigration Service), with the aim of accelerating of the applicant examination procedures and, by extension, the faster emptying of the Center.
In addition, the various options for an additional closed structure that can be used for the temporary accommodation of migrants, in case of mass flows and capacity overflow at the "Pournara" Center, were evaluated.
At the same time, with the aim of the proper operation of the "Pournara" Health Care Center, in addition to the request for the provision of additional equipment, a request will be immediately sent to the European Union for the dispatch of staff (first-line reception officers), who will be able to assist directly in the plan of Cyprus to manage more massive arrivals.