Since 2006, the Remains of 1,700 Missing Persons Have Been Found in Cyprus

The Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) continues its work with eight archaeological teams made up of experts from both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. Since 2006, the remains of 1,700 missing individuals have been recovered, with 1,268 of them successfully identified.

These figures were shared by the Greek Cypriot representative of the CMP, Leonidas Pantelides, during a press conference launching the 40th annual “Marathon of Love for the Missing.”

Pantelides highlighted that more than 100 professionals from both communities have taken part in the excavation and identification process over the years.

According to local media, of the 1,268 individuals whose identities have been confirmed, 1,053 were on the official list of missing persons, while the rest were listed as deceased. Currently, excavations are taking place in several areas, including Sisklipos (Akçiçek), Ayia Irini, Kapouti (Kalkanlı), Trachonas (a military zone), Lapithos, Assia (Paşaköy), Makedonitissa, Ayios Dhometios (Metehan), and near the ELDYK barracks.

The program operates with an annual budget of approximately €4 million. The European Union provides the largest share of funding, followed by the Greek Cypriot administration. It’s also worth noting that, according to the Director General of the Ministry of Defence, nearly half of the cases related to those who disappeared during the conflict remain unresolved.

The Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus was established in 1981 through an agreement between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, under the auspices of the United Nations. The project for the exhumation, identification, and return of the remains of missing persons officially began in 2006 and is co-financed by the EU.