Only 385 families still inhabit four of our occupied villages: Kormakiti, Karpasia, Agia Triada, and Rizokarpaso. They remain the pillars of Hellenism and the Maronite religious community in the occupied areas. Fifty years after the Turkish invasion and occupation, many trapped families were forced to become refugees.
Faced with this decline, The Ministry of Social Welfare has revised the Resettlement Plan for the occupied areas, making the conditions for providing financial support more flexible as an incentive for return.
According to data obtained by Phileleftheros in the four villages, there are 126 families of trapped individuals, comprising 280 people, and 259 resettled families, comprising 396 individuals. In total, therefore, 385 families – 676 individuals.
Kormakiti: A Community Revitalized
Today, Kormakiti has a more vibrant community, with 233 families (356 individuals) residing there and around 25 children. According to data provided to Phileleftheros, the gradual increase in the village’s population has brought it to life. A telling example is the recent baptisms that took place and, last summer, after several years, a wedding ceremony was held again in an outdoor chapel.
In Rizokarpaso, there are 94 families, totaling 246 individuals, and in Agia Triada, 41 families, totaling 51 individuals. The Maronite village of Karpasia has the smallest population, with 17 families, or 23 individuals, residing there.
Revised Resettlement Plan: Key Changes
In an effort to revitalize, develop, and maintain these villages, the Resettlement Plan for the occupied areas has been drafted. It aims to provide financial assistance to Greek Cypriots and members of the Maronite religious group who have permanently settled in villages where trapped individuals reside, which are located in areas not under the effective control of the Republic of Cyprus.
Recently, Minister of Social Welfare Marilena Evangelou revised the plan, offering some facilitations:
- The number of mandatory overnight stays in the occupied villages remains at four per week, but without the requirement for them to be consecutive, and regardless of whether they occur on weekdays or weekends. Previously, weekend stays were counted as one day.
- The right to participate in the Resettlement Plan is now granted to families where one of the spouses resides in the occupied areas.
- The caregiving allowance of €240 will now be granted to couples over 75 years old, in addition to single individuals, as was the case until now. Furthermore, assistance will be provided to individuals under 75 years old if they provide medical certificates.
Eligibility Criteria
The criteria for participating in the Plan are as follows:
- Interested parties must have permanent and continuous residence in their occupied village.
- Interested parties must not be recipients of Minimum Guaranteed Income or public assistance.
- Single individuals.
- Families (couples) or individuals (one of the spouses).
With the expression of interest in participating in the Plan, individuals who have completed six months of permanent and continuous residence after their initial settlement in the occupied areas will receive a monthly allowance, according to the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 24.10.2007, for as long as they meet the Plan’s requirements and continue their permanent and continuous residence in their occupied village, based on the categories described in the application.
It is noted that the Plan does not have a retroactive effect, and therefore, the allowance will commence payment to beneficiaries upon approval of their application.
The Ministry of Social Welfare is responsible for managing and implementing the Plan, which prepares the Plan and is responsible for its implementation, management, and supervision.
