More missing expected to be identified

Further identifications of missing people are expected soon, Humanitarian Affairs Commissioner Anna Aristotelous said on Sunday, referring to the latest revelations from small fragments of bone.

Small bones recently identified “six heroes” she said speaking at the memorial for one of them, Greek soldier Demetris Lourba on Sunday.

Since 1999 a government policy has seen excavations carried out in the Lakatamia cemetery, while more recently genetic testing of small bone fragments has been carried out, which identified six people, including Lourba.

Bone fragments belonging to Lourba were identified on October 19, 2023 while on July 15 this year other people were identified from small pieces of bone.

Aristotelous will be travelling to Greece to tell the families of the other people identified by the small pieces of bone.

She said Lourba was involved in a fight from July 20 to 22 in 1974 to protect the Eldyk camp near Kioneli.

During the second wave of the invasion, from August 14 to 16 the camp came under further heavy attack by Turkish troops.

Cut off by Turkish troops, the Eldyk soldiers then tried to push them back to prevent them reaching Ayios Dhometios.

At some point during this battle contact with Lourbas, and other Greek soldiers, was lost, Aristotelous said.