Communities close to Pournara stage protest outside parliament

Residents of the Kokkinotrimithia area on Thursday staged a protest outside the parliament building, haranguing MPs for what they perceive as indifference to their plight regarding the influx of irregular migrants.

Taking part in the demo were residents of Kokkinotrimithia, Paliometoho, Mammari, Denia and Ayioi Trimithias.

They were protesting the activities in their area because of the presence of the Pournara reception centre for asylum seekers.

One man was seen shouting at an MP: “Why did you leave our community to the mercy of God?”

The Pournara centre is operating at well above capacity, as every day dozens more migrants arrive in the Republic seeking asylum. Local residents complain of crime and drug use among migrants loitering outside the centre.

The protesters complained that, although MPs have on many occasions visited the Pournara facility itself, none of them ever bothered to talk to the local residents.