The Information and Support Centre for Voluntary Return began operation in January this year, aiming to contribute to the integrated management of migration in Cyprus through voluntary return and the encouragement of the sustainable socioeconomic reintegration of beneficiary third country nationals who are returning voluntarily to their countries of origins.

The project is co-financed by the European Fund for Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and by the Republic of Cyprus and will be carried out by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Cyprus.

Speaking to a press conference on behalf of the Interior Minister, Costas Constantinou, Head of the European Funds Unit said the encouragement of voluntary returns as opposed to deportations is that they offer more humane conditions and processes for the return of migrants to their countries of origin without the use of coercive measures.

This practise is an integral part of our migration policy by acting complementary to the other measures implemented by the competent Ministries and Departments aiming at the smooth, human return and integration of various migration groups.

Presenting the IOM Cyprus Office work, Natasa Xenophontos Koudouna said the Information Centre is already visited by migrants and is located at IOM premise in old Nicosia Hospital area while there is a mobile information unit and a toll-free line.

Regional Thematic Specialist AVRR - Regional Office for the European Economic Area, the European Union and NATO Sacha Chan Kam, told CNA that on average the organisation assists approximately 35 thousand migrants to go back each year, adding that in 2015 we saw a very sharp increase in numbers to over 51 thousand migrants who went back to over 160 different countries.