CMP, the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus will be resuming its excavations on both sides of the island on Thursday. The operations were suspended due to the restrictive measures for COVID-19.

A press release by CMP says that following the opening of the crossing points on the island, the bicommunal excavations will begin again tomorrow. It is noted that the CMP Anthropological Laboratory resumed its activities on June 22.

All protocols and measures are taken into account to safeguard safety of all personell. All staff members were tested for COVID-19, the press release says.

During the lockdown the CMP members, assistant personell and coordinators had frequent videoconferences. Investigations were also carried out and data were analyzed in order to wrap up pending cases.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. Since then, the fate of hundreds of people remains unknown.

A Committee on Missing Persons has been established, upon agreement between the leaders of the two communities, with the scope of exhuming, identifying and returning the remains of missing persons to their relatives.