1,200 buildings damaged in İdil

DİYARBAKIR – Doğan News Agency

REUTERS photo

Some 1,200 buildings were damaged during a 43-day curfew imposed to conduct security operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the southeastern district of İdil, a damage assessment investigation revealed after operations ended on April 21. Around 15,000 people went back to the district, which had a population of 26,500 before the operations, after the curfew was lifted. 

“A lot of citizens moved in with their relatives because they were homeless, while some had to migrate from the district. Many citizens said that they don’t want their houses to be demolished and that they will submit a petition of objection to the relevant authorities in order to have them rebuilt,” said the report prepared by the Southeastern Anatolia Region Municipalities Union (GABB) and the Chamber of Architects and Engineers’ Diyarbakır Provincial Coordination Committee (TMMOB) after the examinations.

“Among the 1,200 damaged buildings, 700 were slightly [damaged], 280 were moderately and 100 were heavily damaged. Some 120 of the buildings were in ruins.”

The curfew, which went into effect on Feb. 16, was partially lifted as of 4:30 a.m. on March 31, paving the way for the return of İdil residents.