Cyprus goes high-tech in search for people missing from past conflict
The Committee on Missing Persons leads a team of archaeologists, anthropologists and geneticists to help ascertain the fate of 2,002 people who went missing during inter-ethnic strife in the 1960s and a Turkish invasion that followed a Greek-inspired coup in 1974. Many were killed and buried in unmarked graves across the island.
Relying heavily on witnesses who are assured anonymity, the exhumation and identification of victims have waned in recent years, in part because of discrepancies in witness accounts, the passage of time and rapidly changing landscapes.
"We plan to enhance our capacities to find answers through new technologies," said Pierre Gentile, the U.N. representative on the CMP, which also includes a Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot representative.
Gentile said the CMP would use artificial intelligence to scour digitalized archives for new lines of inquiry and would consider further use of ground-penetrating radars to help find burial areas.
Established in 1981, the CMP started looking for mass graves around 2006. By the end of June 2025 it had located and exhumed 1,707 individuals, with 1,270 remains returned to their families for burial by May 2025.
Although missing persons remain one of the most sensitive issues stemming from Cyprus's division, it is also one of the few areas where Greek and Turkish Cypriots work together on a common humanitarian goal.
"It is a very delicate humanitarian issue and the work we are doing is holy," said Hakki Muftuzade, the Turkish Cypriot CMP representative. "We are fully aware of the duty we have to fulfil," he said.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Israel to allow gradual and controlled entry of goods to Gaza through local merchants
Israel will allow gradual and controlled entry of goods to Gaza through local merchants, COGAT, the Israeli military agency that coordinates aid, said on Tuesday (August 5, 2025). 'This aims to increase the volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip, while reducing reliance on aid collection by the U.N. and international organisations,' the agency said. On Sunday (August 3, 2025), Hamas said it was prepared to coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages it holds in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions, after a video it released showing an emaciated captive drew sharp criticism from Western powers. Palestinian and U.N. officials said Gaza needs around 600 aid trucks to enter per day to meet the humanitarian requirements - the number Israel used to allow into Gaza before the war. The Gaza war began when Hamas killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli figures. Israel's offensive has since killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials who do not distinguish between fighters and non-combatants. According to Israeli officials, 50 hostages now remain in Gaza, only 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Hamas, thus far, has barred humanitarian organisations from having any kind of access to the hostages and families have little or no details of their conditions.
News18
11 hours ago
- News18
‘Her Life Is In Danger': Search For Missing British Woman Intensifies In Greece
She had reportedly gone to the beach with her partner but suddenly disappeared. Her husband is said to have been asleep on the sunbed at the time of her disappearance. However, her personal belongings were found still on the beach, and he immediately contacted the authorities, as cited by The Standard. In response, the Hellenic Coast Guard and local police launched an extensive search of the beach and surrounding sea. According to reports, three recreational vessels, five fishing boats, and two patrol boats have been deployed to assist in the effort. 'The search is very much on, with a patrol vessel and other recreational boats out scouring the seas all along the Strymonian Gulf," a coastguard official said, adding that there are currently no plans to call off the operation. Greek missing persons charity Lifeline Hellas has issued a Silver Alert for Bourda and published a missing person's report. The alert reads, 'Her life is in danger. If you know anything, contact the Silver Alert service, 24 hours a day, at the National SOS Line 1065."
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
South Carolina deputy collapses due to fentanyl exposure while searching woman's car, shocking video surfaces
The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office released a video of a deputy collapsing from fentanyl exposure, and then being revived with emergency doses of Narcan. According to an incident report, the incident took place last week in the area of Bethera Road and Mitchum Town Road in Bonneau. Deputies were responding to a report of a woman in a black SUV who had apparently passed out behind the wheel, Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis said, per WYFF 4. South Carolina deputy collapses due to fentanyl exposure while searching woman's car, shocking video surfaces (X) Here's what happened Deputies managed to get into the locked SUV and wake the woman, and then safely remove her from the vehicle. They then began searching the car. The woman claimed she was pulled over after she almost hit a deer on the road. However, when deputies asked her why she fell asleep, she had no answer, according to Live 5 News. Read More | White House faces backlash for Ghibli-inspired image of convicted fentanyl dealer During the search, a female South Carolina deputy, Lt. Kristin Riddle, found a clear plastic bag containing an unknown substance on one side of the driver's bra, as well as a folded-up dollar bill containing an unknown substance on the other side. Riddle can be heard in the video repeatedly asking for Narcan before falling to the ground. A deputy grabbed Narcan and went on to administer two doses, managing to revive the female deputy. She eventually became alert and responsive. The folded-up dollar bill reportedly contained about 0.01 grams of a brown powder-like substance that was field-tested presumptive for fentanyl. Another clear bag contained approximately 2 grams of a brown powder-like substance that was also field-tested presumptive for fentanyl, per Live 5 News. Riddle was taken to a hospital and later released. She is now at home, recovering. Lewis said that while searching the car, Riddle was not wearing gloves, which may have contributed to the exposure. 'I think it was because of the excessive heat of the day, but normally she would have had gloves on… and should have had gloves on,' he said. Lewis said that the suspect is known to deputies and was charged with drug-related offenses in the past. Following the latest incident, the suspect was taken into custody. Additional charges are being reviewed in connection to the fentanyl exposure. The sheriff said that during his time in office, this was the most serious fentanyl-related exposure involving a Berkeley County deputy. The sheriff's office asserted that it continues to prioritize training and safety protocols for deputies in the field, especially when they are required to handle suspected narcotics.
