Only 37 residents remain in the village of Eleedio: a community on the brink of extinction

The rapid population decline has become one of the most pressing issues facing the village of Eleedio today. This was stated by the Chairman of the Community Council, Takis Papasavvas, describing the situation as critical.

According to him, only 37 people permanently live in the village, most of whom work in construction, agriculture, and viticulture. The population decrease has weakened basic infrastructure: the school in Eleedio is not operational, and the local church functions only partially — services are conducted by a visiting priest.

Illustratively, according to the community leader, in the past three years there has not been a single Christmas service in the village, clearly reflecting the level of neglect.

Takis Papasavvas has served as the head of the community since 2007 and emphasizes that his main goal remains to increase the number of residents. Over the years, infrastructure projects have been implemented in the village — retaining walls, a square, a sports ground, and a viewing area were built. However, as he notes, projects alone are not enough to bring people back to rural areas.

A separate serious problem remains housing. The cost of building a house today reaches 250–300 thousand euros, while banks are reluctant to issue loans. The government subsidy of 50 thousand euros, according to the community head, practically does not solve the problem and needs to be reconsidered.

Residents also suffer from high fuel prices, especially those who commute daily to Paphos. Additional difficulties are caused by the restoration of the old Church of Saint Irene — the project faces bureaucratic obstacles from the Department of Antiquities and requires numerous permits and studies.

In conclusion, Takis Papasavvas appealed to the state to introduce fuel subsidies for residents of rural areas, emphasizing that without real and practical support, villages like Eleedio risk disappearing completely.