Indicator history

The housing provided by the state  to the Roma is often in a bad state of repair, but it is mostly their remote location that attracts criticisms, as it essentially deprives the Roma of the right to access employment, education, health and other services.

Migrants residing in the old parts of the cities are often faced with little choice other than to rent accomodation that is unsuitable for human habitation, such as derelict and abandoned business premises without sanitary provisions. In 2010 the Nicosia Municipality launched a plan to vacate those commercial premises which were being used as homes by poor immigrants. The premises were mainly run-down shops and small warehouses in the old part of Nicosia which had remained unoccupied for several years and were subsequently rented to poor immigrants as cheap housing, many lacking basic amenities such as a toilet and running water, without fire exits and being essentially unfit for human habitation. The Municipality had reported that without kitchen facilities, or even electricity, residents have resorted to cooking in bedrooms with gas stoves, which presents a major fire hazard.