Alpha News

Family from Lebanon Left Homeless While Seeking Asylum in Cyprus

Published February 16, 2026, 17:25

The Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights examined the case of a family from Lebanon who were found homeless in Cyprus while applying for international protection. The Committee President, Irene Charalambidou, expressed concern about the family's living conditions and requested a report from the relevant authorities. The situation arose due to changes in the family's requests, from an application for international protection to a relocation request and back to an asylum application. The Undersecretary for Migration, Nikolaos Ioannidis, stated that the successive changes in the family's status created difficulties in managing the case and led to homelessness. He emphasized that the family is awaiting repatriation to Lebanon and that the government is trying to address these issues responsibly. It was noted that with the completion of the new reception centers, appropriate spaces will be created for those who are about to leave Cyprus. The Undersecretary assured that efforts will be made to identify and cover gaps so that such incidents do not recur. Furthermore, it was reported that when the Committee President was informed about the family's situation, an attempt was made to find accommodation at the Kofinou Reception Center, but this was not possible due to legislation separating asylum seekers from foreigners who are about to depart. This case highlights the challenges in managing asylum applications and providing shelter to vulnerable groups.