Cyprus's Expenditure on Hosting Ukrainian Refugees Calculated

Cyprus has spent a total of 44.4 million euros since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine to accommodate Ukrainian refugees.

According to the Minister of Finance, the Deputy Minister of Tourism allocated 10.1 million euros for refugee accommodation in 2022 and 29.3 million euros in 2023.

Additionally, the Department of Social Welfare provided 2.1 million euros in Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) to refugees in 2022 and 1.8 million euros in 2023. The reasons for the reduction in payments last year were not disclosed.

According to "Cyprus Mail," this reduction may indicate that either the government has ceased support or more Ukrainians have found employment or returned home. However, the cost of government-provided housing in 2023 was three times higher than the previous year.

In 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also provided humanitarian aid amounting to 140,000 euros, compared to 629,520 euros in 2022.

Eurostat data shows that by the end of 2023, Cyprus had one of the highest proportions of refugees from Ukraine who were granted temporary protection status since February 2022. It is estimated that around 20,000 people arrived on the island after fleeing Ukraine.

These figures relate to the temporary protection status granted to refugees from Ukraine based on the EU Council's decision in March 2022.

Earlier reports indicated that in early March, the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus announced the extension of temporary protection rights for Ukrainian citizens who arrived on the island after the conflict with Russia began, valid until March 4, 2025.