Civilian entry blocked in 127 eastern Turkish zones since early June

Oya Armutçu – ANKARA

DHA photo

Some 127 zones in 15 provinces in eastern Turkey have so far been declared “temporary military secure zones,” amid tightened security measures against outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) attacks.

While 15 of the zones have been reopened to civilian access after being closed, 111 areas continue to be out-of-bounds for civilians trying to enter.

The duration of time for keeping an area as a temporary security zone varies from 15 days to six months based on decisions made primarily by the cabinet or, in urgent cases, local governorates.

Towns and cities declared “military secure zones” include area from Osmaniye near Central Anatolia to the eastern province of Ağrı, bordering Iran.

In the eastern province of Ardahan, 24 separate spots were declared security zones between Aug. 21 and Sep. 4 in the Göle district.

The area around Mount Ağrı and Mount Tendürek in the eastern province of Ağrı were declared security zones between Aug. 2 and Aug. 15.

In the northeastern province of Kars, the region between the Kağızman district’s Çemçe and Madur neighborhoods was declared a security zone between Aug. 4 and Aug. 19.

In the eastern province of Erzurum, 30 different locations in the Şenkaya district were closed to civilian entry until Aug. 29.

A large number of areas in the restive southeastern province of Diyarbakır were declared security zones until Sep. 5, amid a series of deadly clashes between Turkish security forces and PKK militants in the province in recent weeks. 

In the southeastern province of Tunceli, 11 areas will remain security zones until Sept. 4.

Many other provinces Turkey’s east and southeast include areas declared security zones such as Mardin, Şırnak, Siirt, Van, Hakkari, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Kilis and Şanlıurfa, as violent PKK attacks and counter-insurgency operations have left scores dead and injured.