Cyprus grapples with displacement 50 years after Turkish invasion

The violent displacement of tens of thousands of Cypriots following the Turkish invasion in July 1974 remains a festering wound for Cyprus. While many from the first generation of refugees have since passed away, the impacts of displacement continue to affect subsequent generations, particularly concerning housing and business opportunities, according to the Pan-Cyprian Refugee Association (PCRA).

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), PCRA President Giorgos Lysandrides clarified that for the majority affected by the 1974 events, the appropriate term is "displaced persons," encompassing those forced to leave their permanent homes and settle elsewhere in their homeland. This term also includes repatriated migrants who lived abroad before or during the invasion but have roots in the occupied areas.

Lysandrides noted, “Children of displaced parents are considered to have permanent residence in the occupied areas. Therefore, for legal and housing assistance purposes, they are regarded as displaced from the same area as their parents.”

According to the Ministry of Interior’s Population Archive Department, there are 255,120 displaced individuals. This figure includes approximately 160,000 initial refugees and their descendants: 116,561 paternal and 93,624 maternal. The total also accounts for those temporarily residing in free areas for professional reasons during the invasion but whose property is in the occupied territories, and 2,166 individuals who lived in occupied areas for work, despite not having origins or property there.

Lysandrides emphasized that, under current law, refugee status is inherited indefinitely, with no cut-off point. Despite some voices questioning this perpetuation, he stated, “Our aim and hope is that this status will be resolved through a solution to the Cyprus problem and the return of refugees to their ancestral homes.”

Reflecting on the passage of 50 years since the invasion, Lysandrides acknowledged the inevitable loss of the original refugees, with numbers halving from the initial 200,000 to fewer than 100,000 registered displaced voters aged over 50, and around 30,000 over 70. He highlighted the need to preserve the memories and connections to the homeland in younger generations.

Unresolved issues still plague the refugee community, primarily the loss of property and the inability to utilize it, which hinders housing needs and business development. Lysandrides noted, “The inability to secure loans due to these factors is a significant barrier preventing refugees from restarting their businesses and providing homes for their families.”

The establishment of the Central Agency for Equal Distribution of Burdens has helped, allowing property owners in occupied areas to mortgage their properties for low-interest loans or subsidies. However, many who owned large tracts of land have received no aid, and some early recipients of minor assistance are now ineligible for new housing schemes.

Additionally, some refugees live in Turkish Cypriot homes or homes built on Turkish Cypriot land, lacking title deeds, which complicates their situation further. Lysandrides hopes that new legislative criteria will bring more transparency and fairness in handling Turkish Cypriot properties.

“Beyond our continuous efforts to secure refugee rights and resolve daily challenges, we advocate for a compensation plan for loss of use,” Lysandrides concluded. “This could deter those in financial need from selling their properties to Turkey.”

[Information sourced from CNA]