Over 1000 Residents of Cyprus Refugee Center Infected with HIV

The number of migrants infected with HIV who have found temporary shelter at the "Purnara" refugee reception center in Cyprus exceeds one thousand. This was announced on Thursday by the island state's Minister of Interior Nikos Nouris during a broadcast on Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, as reported by TASS.

According to him, "more than a thousand guests at the center have tested positive for HIV, and it has been found that 800 people are suffering from tuberculosis." At the same time, the Minister emphasized that there is no cause for concern, as in many cases, the infected individuals have already received necessary medical assistance.

Nouris did not specify the exact number of migrants currently held at Purnara. Recently, against the backdrop of a massive influx of illegal migrants to the island, this center had been significantly overcrowded, but this year, Cypriot authorities have managed to somewhat alleviate the migrant camp by relocating some guests to other shelters and refugee detention centers.

However, during a recent visit to Purnara, Nouris again mentioned the overcrowding of the camp as the main reason for the unrest that occurred on September 29, when groups from Nigeria and Congo organized a mass brawl over charging mobile phones. As a result of this incident, 15 tents were burned, guards and local residents were injured, and a significant number of migrants present in the center at the time had to flee.

On the very next day after this incident, Nouris announced that those instigating the fight would be deported, and additional barriers would be erected around the Purnara center. The Minister reported that a delegation from the Democratic Republic of Congo is expected to arrive in Cyprus in a few days, expressing hope that the island's authorities would be able to reach agreements on the repatriation of refugees.

The Minister also acknowledged the efforts already made by official Nicosia towards deporting migrants to their countries of origin, including Pakistan, India, and Vietnam. Overall, he stated that the island's authorities have recently succeeded in repatriating 6,500 foreigners who had illegally arrived in Cyprus, leading, according to Nouris, to the country taking first place among EU nations in the ratio of returned illegal immigrants to arrivals.