And in human terms. it brought personal tragedy to thousands of familiesand a nightmare of death and horror and grief. A drive along the roads of Cyprus quickly tells the tragic tale of the Cypriot peopleof the human consequences of an armed invasion. of bombing and napalm. of ceasefire violations. of military occupation. and mans inhumanity to man. In the occupied territory only a small percentage of the population remainsincluding some 8.000 Turkish refugees bombed out of their homes. Desolation and destruction mark many areas. Whole villages and towns and cities are empty of people. who fled their homes in fear of advancing Turkish forces. The 15.000 to 20.000 Greeks who remain are being held as virtual hostages- often without adequate food and water and medical care. And some 500 are being cruelly detained in Kyrenias Dome Hotel. Government controlled areas have been inundated with refugees from the north. Over 20.000 men. women. and childrenat least a third of the populationhave been seeking shelter wherever they can find itin open fields. under trees. along the roadsides. and in schools. monasteries. and public buildings. Only in the last 2 or 3 weeks have relief supplies begun to arrive in meaningful quantities. and clusters of tents are beginning to sprout around town and cities in government controlled areas of the island. But food. blankets. medicines. and other relief goods are still In short supply. And. with the approach of the rainy season and the winter cold. the condition of the people will deteriorateunless adequate relief measures are taken now. or a political settlement is accomplished. which will permit the refugees to return to their homes. The overwhelming majority of needy people in government controlled areas are Greek Cypriots. But significant numbers of Turksincluding some 10.000 refugeesalso command our help and concern. Mr. President. a great deal has been said over Americas role in the crisisand over the apparent complicity of our Government in the human and political tragedy of Cyprus.
Keywords matched
refugeesalso refugees