Residents leave 201 villages
More than half of Amedi district villages deserted amid instability
AMEDI — More than half of the villages in Duhok’s Amedi district have been deserted, with conflict between the Turkish military and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) blamed as the main reason.
Out of 358 villages in Duhok’s Amedi district, 201 have been deserted, with a majority of now-empty villages located in the Deraluk and Shiladze areas. Figures further reveal that in Deraluk, only 11 of 60 villages remain inhabited, while in Shiladze, just 7 out of 92 villages are still populated.
In Chamanke sub-district, 10 out of 48 villages are deserted, and in Kani Masi, 12 out of 75 villages have been abandoned. The Sarsang sub-district has nearly 10 deserted villages out of 34, and in Bamerne, 2 of 24 villages are uninhabited.
According to a report by the U.S.-based Community Peacemaker Teams-Iraqi Kurdistan (CPT) organization, during the first 70 days of 2024, the Turkish military has conducted 141 bombings in Duhok governorate, with 75 of those strikes targeting villages around Gara Mountain.
Gara Mountain, with an elevation of 2,251 meters above sea level and spanning 38.9 kilometers, links the districts of Mergasor, Akre, Amedi, and Zakho. Of the 94 villages in its vicinity, 55 have been completely evacuated due to Turkish military bombing and operations since 1996.
The CPT report alleges that the Turkish military’s bombings and attacks aim to pressure villagers to evacuate, facilitating operations in the area. Furthermore, the report reveals the Turkish military plans to completely seal off the border of the Kurdistan Region by initiating a spring operation, by taking control of Gara Mountain.
The CPT report describes Gara Mountain as a strategically significant area, known for the presence of PKK members. Its caves and valleys have served as training and shelter sites for the organization.
A new Turkish military operation, if carried out, could potentially displace 190 more families in the immediate area according to the CPT report.
The conflict has resulted in civilian casualties across the Kurdistan Region. CPT has documented four deaths and several injuries this year, including two civilians killed in a February airstrike on Kafya village.
Previously, CPT reported that the Turkish military operations and airstrikes resulted in the deaths of 11 civilians and injuries to 13 others in 2023. Most recently, Turkish aircraft heavily bombarded the areas surrounding Barchi village in Amedi, leading the local village council to impose a curfew.
Turkey has established 64 military bases within Iraqi sovereign territory, ranging from 5 to 40 kilometers inside the border.