A recent development has revealed that the 3,000 Ukrainian refugees who are currently residing in hotels in Cyprus will be forced to vacate their rooms and find alternative accommodation before the start of the holiday season, specifically by May 31.
The eviction is a result of a law passed in February 2022, which states that Ukrainian refugees who arrive in Cyprus after March 1, 2023, can stay in local hotels for a maximum of six months.
However, the authorities have already started implementing a plan to find jobs for able-bodied Ukrainians, and the refugees can apply for a housing subsidy and employment services. The Deputy Minister of Tourism has also scheduled meetings with employers in the tourism industry to discuss employment options for the refugees.
It is noteworthy that Cyprus has the highest number of registered refugees with temporary protection status relative to its population in the EU, with 1.1 Ukrainians per 1,000 inhabitants, followed by the Czech Republic with 0.9 Ukrainians per 1,000 inhabitants, according to the EU statistical agency Eurostat. The hotels that will continue to house Ukrainians after the holiday season will be selected through a tender process.
