An event entitled "Pancyprian Refugee Meeting" starts tomorrow, Wednesday, October 30, in the Achna Forest Community.
As the Mayor of Achna, Nikos Vassilas, stated to KYPE, "the event will start at eight in the morning, will last until Tuesday, November 5, and will be held as part of the celebrations of Agios Dimitrianos, the patron saint of refugees, which is celebrated on November 6."
He explained that within the framework of the event, the "Refugee Theme Park" has been organized, which will operate in the central square of the Achna Forest and in an adjacent forest. "About 30 tents will be set up in the area, covering the history of the refugees in the first years after the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the life they lived then."
Answering a relevant question, Mr. Vassilas said that "some of the tents will function as accommodation for refugees who lived there in 1974 and for several years after, while others will display equipment used by the refugees, such as kitchen utensils, campaign divans. , deluxe and kerosene lamps. There will also be a tent - a first aid hospital, similar to the one that existed at that time in the camp, tents of the Refugee Service and makeshift sanitary facilities ".
He added that "a tent will be used as a dining area, while there will be a tent - school, which will represent the conditions under which children immediately after 1974, learned letters. In general, the refugees will be represented with clothes hung on the trees, with makeshift kitchens and cooking methods, as well as how various daily tasks were done ".
According to Mr. Vassilas, some tents will function as places for the projection of visual material, excerpts from the documentary by Michalis Kakogiannis will be shown under the title "Attilas 1974", a report by journalists in Dasaki Achnas during the first period of the 1974 refugee held by the Achna Community Council since that time. It is estimated that in the area of the Achna Forest, immediately after the Turkish invasion, about 80 thousand refugees were accommodated ".
Asked about this, the Mayor of Achna Forest said that the Ministry of Education has sent a circular to all schools, Primary, High Schools and Lyceums, in order for the students to visit the "Refugee Theme Park". "From tomorrow, Wednesday, October 30, at eight o'clock in the morning, the educational visits of the schools, mainly Primary Schools from all over free Cyprus, will begin and the children will be informed about the conditions under which the refugees lived for several months after the Turkish invasion."
He added that in addition to the schools, visitors can also go to the "Theme Park" on their own and be informed by signs that will be outside each tent for their content. At the same time, there will be people from the community who will explain what each tent contains and its usefulness to the refugees. "
Mr. Vassilas also noted that at 16.30 on the afternoon of Friday, November 1, a prayer for the release of the occupied and the return of the refugees will be held at the Monument of the Fallen, Missing and Refugees, located at the Refugee Theme Park. Afterwards, an anti-occupation concert with the singer Giannis Kotsiras will take place in Dachos Achnas square.
However, in case the weather does not allow it, arrangements were made for the concert to take place in a closed room in Dasaki Achnas.
Those interested can get information about the "Refugee Theme Park" and the anti-occupation concert, by contacting the Achna Community Council, at 24 721666.