In Nicosia, Cyprus, Snunith Shoham shared her experiences from her early life as she participated in a ceremony on Tuesday commemorating the 76th anniversary of the closure of the internment camps that held Holocaust survivors. Shoham, a professor at Bar-Ilan University in Israel and a chairperson of an organization focused on those interned in Cyprus, was just a few months old when her family was allowed to leave the camps in February 1947—a significant moment occurring under British colonial administration in Cyprus.
The ceremony took place at a former British military hospital located within a Cypriot National Guard base, where Shoham herself was born. During the four years that the camps operated, over 52,000 survivors were housed there, and around 2,200 infants were born in this challenging setting, as documented in official records.
Reflecting on her experiences, Shoham recounted the dire conditions for families, especially those with young children. In light of these hardships, British authorities provided special exemptions for hundreds of families to embark on their journey towards a new life. The number of people seeking to leave the camps became so great that authorities even attempted to restrict the movement.
Notably, the local Cypriots showed empathy and offered assistance to the survivors. Shoham acknowledged their kindness during her speech at the ceremony, stating, “The Cypriot workers did many small, yet significant services for the detainees. We will never forget the local Cypriots’ help.”
The history of these internment camps is not widely recognized, yet the Hollywood film “Exodus,” released in 1960 and featuring Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint, has brought some attention to the subject. During the ceremony, Cypriot Defence Ministry representative Anna Aristotelous remarked that, “Cyprus became a temporary haven for these survivors, offering them security and care in a world that had so often denied them both.”
Israeli Ambassador Oren Anolik emphasized the significance of the internment camps, describing them as a vital link between the peoples of Israel and Cyprus, solidifying an enduring relationship. Among those who played a supportive role for the Jewish survivors was Capt. Paul Rossides, who volunteered as a harbor pilot in Famagusta, guiding ships filled with refugees.
Capt. Rossides’ daughter, Irinoulas Loizou, now 87 years old, shared memories of her father’s dedication. She recalled how her mother brewed pots of coffee to keep him alert during his nighttime work. Loizou described him as a courageous individual who consistently offered assistance, regardless of the potential dangers involved.
Loizou mentioned that her father’s generous efforts were acknowledged by Israeli officials, which included a plaque awarded to him in July 1949 by Ephraim Gilan, the commander of the Haganah—a Jewish paramilitary organization. The plaque bore the inscription: “In recognition for outstanding services rendered to the internees of Karaolos and Xylotympou camps during the years 1946-1949.”
