THE GHOST VILLAGE OF SOUSKIOU
ABANDONED TO ITS FATE
With a five-thousand-year history, the village of Souskiou, in the Paphos district, is considered to be one of the largest abandoned villages in Cyprus today. Problems for the village began after the region was devastated by the 1953 EARTHQUAKE. This natural disaster not only damaged several homes but also initiated early infrastructure disruptions that severely weakened the whole region.
A REPATRIATION
The village of Souskiou in 1953 initially had a mixed community of both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. This changed, however, after the natural disaster. After civilian life throughout the village was disrupted, several of its Greek inhabitants repatriated to other areas across the island. This migration gradually continued into the next decade, with the village becoming entirely Turkish Cypriot by 1964.
ETHNIC TENSIONS
Ethnic tensions, which mainly occurred after the island gained independence in 1960, also had an impact on the demographics of the village. Intercommunal conflicts, which escalated in 1963 and continued through to 1964, were also largely instrumental. This eventually forced any remaining Greek Cypriots, who by now were largely a minority in the village, to abandon their homes.
A NEW TURKISH MOVEMENT
By 1964, Turkish Cypriots across the island were advocating for the partition of the island. This became known as TAXIM, and the village of Souskiou was at the forefront of these efforts. The village was transformed into an armed stronghold, and it became a paramilitary training centre for Turkish Cypriot fighters. It remained that way until the geopolitical division of Cyprus following the 1974 TURKISH INVASION, which occurred in the early hours of July 20th 1974.
A MILITARY TARGET
After the onset of the Turkish military offensive, the entire village of Souskiou was uprooted and then evacuated after it became a military target. Although some of the Turkish Cypriots from the village initially sought refuge in the nearby village of Stavrokonnou, most fled through the mountains to British Sovereign Base Areas.
AN ISLAND DIVIDED
In the aftermath of the war, the Turkish policy of TAXIM was fully implemented. The GREEN LINE, which divides NICOSIA and the rest of the island, was by now fully implemented. As a result, several Greek and Turkish Cypriots were forced to repatriate. Ironically, the village of Souskiou fell within the borders of the Republic of Cyprus. This meant that its former Turkish Cypriot residents, who fully advocated partition, found themselves completely displaced. They were then systematically resettled in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the now divided island by 1975.
A GHOST VILLAGE
The village of Souskiou has remained abandoned since the partition of the island. Today it remains as one of the largest ghost villages in Cyprus. Each of its distinctive buildings is based on the period in which it was built. Its crumbling stone architecture includes a historical mosque and a nearby cemetery. Excavations of the village have revealed several artefacts from antiquity.
