UNFICYP, or the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, is a term that refers to the multinational peacekeeping mission established by the United Nations in 1964. The acronym stands for "United Nations Force in Cyprus." UNFICYP was created essentially to prevent further conflict between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots following a period of intense intercommunal violence on the island.
The primary objective of UNFICYP is to maintain peace, promote stability, and facilitate the reunification of Cyprus. The mission's presence is aimed at assisting the two communities to reach a peaceful resolution to the ongoing division between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot populations. UNFICYP accomplishes this by monitoring and supervising the buffer zone, known as the "Green Line," that separates the two sides.
The force is composed of military personnel, police officers, and civilian staff from various contributing countries. Their responsibilities include observing and reporting any breaches of the ceasefire, facilitating humanitarian activities, promoting dialogue between the conflicting parties, and assisting with the restoration of normal conditions in the disputed areas. UNFICYP's mandate has been renewed periodically by the United Nations Security Council to ensure its continued presence and efforts towards resolving the Cyprus conflict.
In summary, UNFICYP is an abbreviation for the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, a multinational mission created to maintain peace, stability, and aid in the reunification of Cyprus. Its responsibilities include mediating between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, monitoring the buffer zone, and facilitating humanitarian efforts.
