By Andria Kades
A NEW home has been found for the unemployed and disabled refugee, Michalis Charalambous, who was unceremoniously removed from the estate he lived in, which will cost about €10 a month, the interior ministry said on Friday.
In a statement that denies his version of events, the ministry said the eviction at the Kokkines refugee estate was “peaceful and legal, following a court decision”, and the reasons the 59 year old had to be removed was because the man lived on his own in a family unit.
“The reason the interior ministry could not arrange his relocation promptly is because he refused to cooperate with the Town Planning department to abandon the particular residence.”
His new place, an apartment with a monthly rent of €10 is suitable for people living on their own as opposed to the family estate he stayed in, the ministry said.
“This particular refugee that is living on his own was living illegally in a residence at a refugee estate that on the basis of existing criteria should have been given to a family with children.”
Earlier this week however, authorities were slammed after the man had to leave the house despite repeatedly stressing he had nowhere else to go and asked he be allowed to stay on for a few more days until he could make other arrangements. This was refused and instead, he was given €150 by the Welfare Department and told to book into a hotel for a couple of nights.
The original version of events said Charalambous had been ordered to vacate the property on the grounds that his estranged wife owned a house, and thus was disqualified as a tenant.
The man needs crutches to walk because of his fragile health and requires a cocktail of pills every day.
On Thursday, ten public employees from different government departments arrived at the house, with two policemen in support, to change the locks and move all of Charalambous’ furniture out.
Following the arrival of news crews, events took a different turn with the Town Planning department agreeing not to remove any of his furniture or belongings from the house, although the locks had already been changed.
He was told that whenever he needed anything, he would have to call the department, which would send an official to unlock the door for him. He was not given a key even though all his belongings would remain in the house for the time being.
