Refugees Turn to Property Commission in North to Fund Children’s Studies, Says House Committee Chair

Nicosia, Cyprus. House refugee committee chairman Nikos Kettiros said on Tuesday that refugees are being driven to sell their properties in the occupied north through the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) in order to cover their children’s university costs. The Republic does not recognise the commission, which operates in the north, as a legitimate body for compensation.

An elderly refugee’s case

Kettiros described a conversation with a 75-year-old grandmother who intended to sell her plots in Famagusta to pay for her granddaughter’s education, since she had found no other source of funds. According to him, the woman wept and said she would approach the so-called compensation committee or other channels to obtain the money.

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Appeal to the government

Kettiros said he had also received a letter from a refugee about the matter and had forwarded it to the agency for the equal distribution of burdens, which administers the loans. He urged the government to clarify whether its policy is to avoid helping refugees borrow through that agency, a stance he said leaves them “in limbo”.

The four co-debtor requirement

The chairman focused on the rule requiring every applicant to name four creditworthy co-debtors who guarantee repayment. He cited a case in which a refugee holding deposits of €2 million was asked to find four guarantors. The person told him of feeling ashamed to ask employees to vouch for the repayment of a loan.

Official position

State officials responded that many loans are non-performing, and that this is the reason four creditworthy co-borrowers are required.