In 2024, the remains of five Greek and two Turkish Cypriots were identified, underscoring the ongoing efforts of the Committee for Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) to provide closure to families affected by decades-old conflict.

As of July 31, 2024, remains have been discovered at 49 excavation sites across the island, leading to the identification of these seven individuals. A total of 16 remains have been discovered this year, seven of which are on the CMP’s official missing persons list and four others have also been successfully identified.

The CMP’s work is part of a broader mission to clarify the fate of those who disappeared during the inter-communal violence of 1963-1964 and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. Since 2006, the remains of 1,196 people have been exhumed and 1,051 people – 756 Greek Cypriots and 295 Turkish Cypriots – have been identified. However, the search continues, as 754 Greek Cypriots and 197 Turkish Cypriots are still missing.

The identification numbers reflect the ongoing challenges and progress of this humanitarian effort. For example, in 2023, the remains of 15 Greek Cypriots and one Turkish Cypriot were identified and 29 remains were recovered. 2014 saw the highest number of identifications of Greek Cypriots with 140 confirmed cases, while 2018 saw the highest number of identifications of Turkish Cypriots with 36 cases.

Since the creation of the CMP, there have been various efforts to locate and identify the missing. The largest number of remains found during excavations was recorded in 2015, with 159 finds. Between 2006 and 2024, 234 cases were analyzed but were not relevant to the CMP, while 216 other identifications were made that did not match the official list.

The CMP was established by an agreement between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to exhume, identify and return the remains of 492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots who went missing during the conflicts. Despite progress, the fate of hundreds remains unknown, underscoring the deep scars left by the division of Cyprus.

(Source: CNA)