Greek Cypriots Describe Northern Living

As reported by Parikiaki, Rizokarpaso resident Theodoros described,"We live like visitors in our own village". The town that lies on the Karpas peninsula, has one decrepit Greek Orthodox church that faces an Ataturk statue, and one Greek cafe that barely operates.

Theodoros, who declined to offer his first and last name stated, "There used to be a lot of problems, but now things are better". He added that a couple of crossing points have been opened and his grandchildren have visited from the South, starting in 2003.

The majority of the remaining Greek Cypriot population in his region are approximately 150 older individuals. Health care access remains a primary concern for the elderly dwellers. Theodoros has to travel three hours via broken streets, to enter the south and be: "treated near my children".

In Sipahi or Ayia Trias, a neighboring village, 84-year-old Savvas Liasi chose to remain in the North. His decision was based on his wife, "My wife didn't want to leave the place where she grew up". Turkish Cypriot heads confiscated his business in the village, that currently holds 50 Greek Cypriots. Their son went missing during the 1974 invasion and their daughter lives abroad. Liasi stated, "Without our children with us, we have no reason to go".