Famagusta today

1974-2007...thirty three years later

Famagusta, the city has survived the catastrophe, but stands empty today without its lawful citizens. It is a ghost town, home only to a growing number of reptiles and rapacious prey. Famagusta has become hostage to the ever changing climate, but most importantly, remains a pivotal playing card in the never ending political imbroglio of the island. Yet amidst the shell-shattered buildings, the wires and warnings, it still exudes a certain charm.

It is a city full of light and sea
A sea-city
That we travel to again and again
Without row or boat

Klairi Aggelidou, from the poetry collection “Nostimon Imar”

Famagusta photos taken after 1974

 

 

 

For so many years now, we have been able to see our city only from a distance. Persistently, in our minds we have traveled, walked and swam the distance between King George and the Grecian hotels on the sandy beach of Famagusta. Barbed wire barricades and Turkish riflemen end our dreams abruptly. Ever since 2003, when the Turkish Cypriot administration partially lifted border restrictions, we, the lawful citizens of Famagusta have been unable to return to our war-torn city, confront our abandoned homes and recollections. Barbed wire is blocking our return whilst the Turkish occupying military forces continue to occupy illegally, land and property which are not their own. Only from the checkpoint of Aktaion are we able to contemplate our beloved city in ochre dust. The seafront, once famous in the entire Middle East is today deserted. Houses are empty and crumbling, most stripped of doors and windows. Trees and bushes have grown inside the houses and obscure the once elegant quarters, lively streets and neighborhoods. Instead of people, the city is inhabited by snakes, rats and patrolling soldiers.

There is nowhere to stand
Our houses have collapsed, crumbled
Our trees, in ruins
There is no space left to dream
As there is no glimpse of clear sky.
The sky has fallen and black smoke has filled its place.
The castles have also sunk, rusted deep in the soil
And yet, this place has been preserved by our memory.
I must have lived there during some other life
I remember the black cloud hovering
Above the dismantled body
Of our own city that was no longer a city
Only stones, bricks and chaos remains

Theodosis Nikolaou, from the poetry collection “Parodos”

Source: Famagusta Municipality website

 

Links

• Famagusta Municipality website (external link)
• Famagusta Refugee Movement website (external link)
• Aerial photographs of Famagusta taken in 2003 (Famagusta Municipality)
• Photographs of the seafront taken in 2006 (Famagusta Municipality)