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Kellia is a village situated in the Larnaca district, seven kilometers north of the city of Larnaca. Goodwin believes the village was most probably named after some “cells” used by monks, situated in caves. Kellaki means “cell” in Greek. Turkish Cypriots used to call the village Celya or Chelia until 1958, when they adopted the alternative name Yıldırım, meaning “lightning.”

 

 

As can be seen in the above chart, the village had a mixed population until the 1950s. Throughout the British period, the population of the village increased significantly, rising from 152 persons in 1891 to 411 in 1960. By the time of the 1960 census, there were no Greek Cypriots living in the village.

Displacement:

All the Greek Cypriots left the village during the intercommunal tensions of the late 1950s. By 1960 there were no Greek Cypriots living in the village.

In December 1963, the village served as a reception centre for displaced Turkish Cypriots who evacuated their villages. Richard Patrick recorded 15 displaced Turkish Cypriots still living in the village in 1971, although the number of displaced persons was much higher in 1964-68. The second conflict-related displacement took place in 1974. After August 1974, almost all the Kellia/Yıldırım Turkish Cypriots fled to the north of the divide, traveling through hills and plains in the evenings. Many also sought refuge in the British bases until they were resettled in the north. The remaining Turkish Cypriots were evacuated by UNFICYP in the autumn of 1975. The majority of the Kellia/Yıldırım Turkish Cypriots were resettled in Milia(140) village in the Famagusta district, changing its name to Yıldırım.

Current Inhabitants:

Currently the village is inhabited by Greek Cypriot refugees from the north. The 2001 census puts the village’s population at 369.

  

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Websites:

• http://www.cyprus-village.com/ (for the villages)
• http://news.karpasha.com/
• http://human-rights-archaeology.blogspot.com/
• http://kypros.org/Occupied_Cyprus/ (for the villages in the north)