Cyprus has initiated the use of advanced DNA testing, known as massive parallel sequencing, to identify the remains of Greek Cypriot soldiers and civilians missing since the 1974 Turkish invasion. This cutting-edge genetic technique can analyze severely damaged remains that conventional DNA testing could not process due to chemical exposure. The government allocated €1 million to support the specialised genetic testing, which is being conducted by the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics (CING) in collaboration with state anthropologists.

Since decades of chemical treatment damaged the genetic material in many remains, previous identification efforts faced significant challenges. The new method offers renewed hope for families who have waited for answers, as initial testing has begun on the most suitable skeletal samples. So far, over 1,700 excavations have taken place island-wide, with more than 1,050 missing persons identified and repatriated.

The programme remains a humanitarian priority for Cyprus, addressing missing persons from both intercommunal violence in the 1960s and the 1974 conflict. Approximately 800 individuals from the official list of 2,002 missing remain unaccounted for. The government emphasizes its commitment to using all available scientific, institutional, and financial resources until every missing person is accounted for and families receive closure.