Newsroom
The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, spearheaded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, has made a significant contribution to the humanitarian mission of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP). According to a press release from the CMP, the Foundation donated excavation equipment valued at €45,000 as an in-kind contribution on 3 December 2024. This donation aims to bolster the Committee’s ongoing efforts to locate and identify the remains of individuals who have been missing for decades, providing closure to their families.
The CMP, established in 1981 through an agreement between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders and operating under the auspices of the United Nations, has been a beacon of hope for families affected by the island’s troubled history. Its flagship initiative, the Project on the Exhumation, Identification, and Return of Remains of Missing Persons in Cyprus, began in 2006 and receives co-funding from the European Union. To date, the program has successfully identified and returned the remains of 1,051 individuals from both communities, enabling families to conduct dignified burials and find some measure of peace.
According to the CMP, this latest donation from the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation is poised to play a pivotal role in accelerating excavation activities. The new equipment is expected to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the Committee's teams as they continue their delicate and critical work.
The CMP underscored the importance of donor support in sustaining its bi-communal mission, which not only helps resolve decades-old mysteries but also fosters reconciliation and understanding between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. Contributions such as the one made by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation are vital in alleviating the long-standing suffering of families still awaiting answers.
