The History Of Famagusta Since 1974 

On August 14, 1974, the island of Cyprus was invaded by Turkey.  Called the Cyprus Peace Operation by the Turkish, the invasion army swept across the Messaroia plain and was in Famagusta.  Having heard that the Turkish Army was on the way, all members of the Greek Cypriot community was evacuated from the area.  There were still Greek Cypriots fleeing for their lives after the Turkish Air Force bombed the city. 

The Varosha sector of Famagusta was the area that was primarily lived in by the Greek Cypriots.  This area was sealed off by the Turkish Army and it is still sealed off today.  The people who lived there have not been allowed to return to their homes to gather their possessions.  The entire area has been frozen in time with shops filled with clothing and items thirty-four years out of date. 

Anyone who visits Famagusta and can see into this sealed off section of the city will be looking upon a ghost town. 

The area north of the Varosha sector in Famagusta is still vibrant and alive with Turkish Cypriot residents and it is the home of the Eastern Mediterranean University.  There have been many attempts by the governments on both sides of the demarcation line to come to an agreement that would allow Greek Cypriots to return to their homes in the Varosha sector, opening up the harbour for both communities, and attempting to soothe the political frustrations of the island nations. 

Unfortunately, the agreements that have been suggested to both sides have fallen through, and the Varosha sector of the thriving city of Famagusta remains a ghost town.