Pournara

Pournara

The ‘Pournara First Reception Centre’ is a closed Reception and Identification Centre (RIC) in the outskirts of the village of Kokkinotrimithia in the western Nicosia area. It was initially a tented facility in 2014 with a 350-person capacity providing 72-hour emergency accommodation to newly arrived refugees from Syria. It has exceeded its capacity at several points since 2018. At times it hosted up to 4000 people. There have been a number of anti-RIC protests in the area. In 2023 the construction of a second fence made it a closed centre.

The area of Kokkinotrimithia where Pournara camp is located borders the UN-controlled Buffer Zone in Cyprus. This border had partly demilitarised in recent decades. However, it was then re-fortified through the installation of razor wire and steel gates across the Buffer Zone by authorities of the Republic of Cyprus. Following local protests and public condemnation the fence was recently removed. Patrolling and border control is now carried out largely through remote means.

Local residents in Kokkinortimithia have organised in recent years against the centre. They also called for tighter border controls and security at the centre at various points. On the other hand, pro-migrant organisations have called for improvement of conditions and better processing at the centre.

In the last few years, Cypriot authorities have taken more stringent approaches to border policing in the sea, resulting in allegations of pushbacks. They have also engaged in deportations and have concluded a series of bilateral repatriation agreements. These policies have seen a sharp decline in irregular arrivals as well as in asylum applications.

Apart from Pournara, Cyprus also has a reception centre for vulnerable individuals and families and a detention facility for failed asylum seekers. It has also recently opened a centre for people awaiting deportation.