Missing persons

• Photographer
  Iakovos Hatzistavrou, Cyprus
• Studio
  Iakovos Hatzistavrou
• Instagram
  iak_hatz

In Cyprus, after the events of 1963-64 and the Turkish invasion the obvious result is the
division of the island and the non-obvious -and perhaps the most tragic- result is the
missing persons and the impact on their families and society.
According to psychologists, anxiety, unanswered questions, constant pain and various
psychological traumas is the non-stop reality experienced by the relatives of the missing
persons for 40 to 50 years.
The official figures speak for 1508 Greek Cypriots and 493 Turkish Cypriots missing. So
far they have been found and returned to their families for burial
430 Greek Cypriots and 134 Turkish Cypriots and a total of 934 points have been excavated
in both "sides" of the island.
Behind this operation and responsible for the work is CMP, an organization composed of
scientists and technicians from both communities.
The stages are the archaeological dig, the anthropological study of broad, identification
through DNA and finally the return of remains to the families.