Refugees on Their Own Island

The war of 1974 brought about an extensive relocation of people on the island. It is estimated that a total of 180,000 Greek Cypriots moved to the south and 45,000 Turk Cypriots to the north. More than 25 percent of the population are refugees on their own island. This marks the peninsula of Karpaz. Greek Cypriots have left their estates and Turk Cypriots, who likewise have left all they owned behind, have moved in. Turks from the mainland also populate Karpaz. They have moved into Greek houses, but there is still no agreement regulating the economic compensation to the original owners. The old Greek Cypriot village Ephtakómi, nowadays called Yedikonuk, is an example of this.