Missing persons search fund receives €2.6m boost from European Commission
Source: in-cyprus.com
The European Commission has signed a €2.6 million agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP), marking its 16th such agreement and reaffirming its commitment to peace and reconciliation on the island.
The funding, provided through the EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, will support the CMP’s mission to recover, identify and return the remains of missing persons to their families.
The committee aims to investigate the fate of 2,002 people – 492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots – who went missing during the intercommunal conflicts of 1963-1964 and the events of 1974.
The Commission continues to support bicommunal scientific teams, comprising Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot experts, who are involved in all stages of the CMP’s work.
This collaboration helps heal the wounds of missing persons’ families but also promotes mutual understanding and cooperation between the two communities, essential elements for reconciliation in Cyprus.
Since 2006, the European Commission has been the largest donor to the CMP’s work, providing total support of €41.1 million.
This assistance has significantly contributed to the identification of remains of 1,051 individuals, helping to close an open wound for affected families whilst supporting broader peace-building objectives on the island.
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