Kato Deryneia, Cyprus. Excavation works are underway in Kato Deryneia’s Ayios Memnonas area, where the Committee of Missing Persons (CMP) is searching for the remains of 12 individuals, including women and children. Additional excavation sites are active across Cyprus, according to officials.
Search operations across multiple locations
Greek Cypriot CMP representative Leonidas Pantelides said on Monday that excavations are also taking place in Karavas, near a former landing point for the Turkish navy, where bones were located in a nearby well.
He said bones with military clothing were found, and it is believed they may belong to a number of missing persons.
Pantelides said further excavation activity is ongoing in Ampelikou, Lapithos, Syrianochori on Morphou bay, the village of Yalatia in Karpasia, as well as in Strovolos.
Officials cite growing challenges
Pantelides said efforts are continuing despite increasing difficulties, adding that earlier years saw the easiest cases resolved.
He said there is still a window to locate known mass graves.
Funding secured for specialised genetic testing
Presidential commissioner Marios Hartsiotis said the government will continue its efforts in coordination with relevant organisations and scientific institutions.
He said one million euros has been secured to fund specialised genetic testing using massive parallel sequencing on skeletal remains from the Tomb of Makedonitissa, where previous chemical treatment had made identification difficult.
He said the programme will be implemented by the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and is expected to begin in May.
Official figures on missing persons
Hartsiotis cited official figures stating that of 1,619 missing persons, 859 have been identified, while 760 remain unaccounted for.
What do you think the new genetic testing programme could change in efforts to identify missing persons?
