The abandoned village of Souskioú: ruined dwelling in an ex-Turkish enclave in Greek Cyprus
Souskiou is a village located five kilometers northeast of Kouklia and four kilometers southwest of Maokremmos. The origin of the name is obscure. Since the Ottoman period, the Turkish Cypriots of the village have been using the alternative name Susuz, which means “without water.” Souskiou was a mixed village from the Ottoman period. During the British period, the population of the village increased steadily from 210 in 1891 to 462 in 1946. After the departure of the Souskiou Greek Cypriots in 1958, the overall population dropped to 344 in the Greek Cypriots of the village were displaced during the emergency years of the 1950s. During the intercommunal strife of 1963-64, Souskiou became an important stronghold of Turkish Cypriot Fighters. It also served as a reception center for some displaced Turkish Cypriots from Kidasi/Ceyhan during this period. On 21 July 1974, at the beginning of the Turkish military offensive in the island, Souskiou was evacuated. Some of the fighters and their families sought refuge in Stavrokonnou/Aydoğan village and stayed there until the village was evacuated in September 1975. Some also fled secretly over the mountains to the British Base Area and were eventually taken to the northern part of the divide via Turkey in January 1975. They were mainly resettled in Kythrea/Değirmenlik, a village in the Nicosia district. However some of them also chose to be resettled in the towns, such as Famagusta, Kyrenia and Morphou/Güzelyurt, or the villages of Fyllia/Serhatköy, Masari/Şahinler, Akanthou/Tatlısu and Lysi/Akdoğan. The number of Souskiou/Susuz Turkish Cypriots who were displaced after 1974 was around 350-370 (344 in the 1960 census). The village is now empty and in ruins. Some of the houses are used as sheepfolds.
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Photo credit: © will Perrett / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
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