According to 2025 data from the Ministry of the Interior’s Population Registry, obtained by CNA, the number of living Greek Cypriots who have been away from their homes for 52 years, ever since they were forcibly uprooted during the Turkish invasion of July–August 1974.

Four generations, uprooted for 52 years now, are counting their sorrows, struggling to heal wounds and create a sense of normalcy in which to raise their families amid a state of prolonged limbo, while at the same time clinging to memories with the hope of returning.

For decades, the refugee camps that have housed the overwhelming majority of the displaced have served as the backdrop to this ongoing drama. According to data from the Ministry of the Interior, the displaced persons were housed in 69 government-run settlements across Cyprus, which were established gradually after 1974 and still exist today.

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There they temporarily made a home for themselves, although this temporary arrangement turned out to be permanent for a large portion of the first generation of displaced persons, who passed away while waiting to return to their homes. Fifty-two years later, after entire generations were born and raised within the settlements, time has left its mark.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, it is unclear how many of the displaced persons—from the first through the fourth generation—still reside in the refugee settlements.

The Ministry is unable to determine the exact demographic composition of the settlements, noting that many of the displaced persons may have rented out or sold their homes, while in others the original beneficiaries or members of their families continue to reside.

A significant factor was the granting of title deeds beginning in 2006, as until then the displaced persons had been living in the settlements under a right-of-use or lease arrangement.

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For the tens of thousands of families left homeless after the invasion, the right to own their temporary homes has been a last resort, 30 years after their uprooting.

Living with temporary solutions, 52 years later…

In recent years, the maintenance and suitability of housing in refugee settlements have been key issues for both residents and the government.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, through the Program for the Reconstruction, Repair, and Radical Improvement of eight government-run settlements, 47 apartment buildings and 187 single-family homes have been constructed to date, while 50 apartment buildings and 2,200 single-family homes have been repaired or reinforced. The program is still ongoing.

At the same time, as part of the Elevator Installation Program, 202 elevators have been installed in government housing complexes throughout Cyprus, of which 124 are in existing apartment buildings and 78 in new ones.

In 2023, the “ktiZO” Plan was approved; it is currently underway with the aim of definitively addressing the problems of unsuitability and safety hazards in apartment buildings.

The plan covers 358 apartment buildings and is being implemented in three phases:

• 43 apartment buildings have been deemed unsafe and are scheduled for demolition and replacement with new structures.
• 70 apartment buildings will be repaired with a government grant of up to €300,000, plus €90,000 for an elevator.
• 245 apartment buildings with minor issues are also being repaired with a grant of €300,000, plus €90,000 for elevator installation.

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The first two new apartment buildings in the Apostolos Andreas neighborhood of Latsia and the Kokkines neighborhood of Strovolos are expected to be delivered in the coming weeks, while work is already underway on eight more new apartment buildings in Nicosia, Limassol, and Larnaca.

At the same time, the second and third phases of the “KtiZO” Plan have been expedited, with interest so far from 26 apartment buildings in the second phase and 30 in the third.

Finally, the Department of Urban Planning and Housing maintains general maintenance contracts for refugee settlements, through which repair and maintenance work is carried out to ensure the safety and health of eligible refugees, following telephone or written requests from residents.

Source: CNA