Buisness owners decry effects of conflict
Shiladze tourism industry seeks compensation amid ongoing PKK-Turkey conflict
SHILADZE — Owners of tourist attractions in Duhok’s Shiladze region affected by ongoing conflicts between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, and Turkey, are seeking financial compensation from authorities for their losses.
The tourism sites of Kochka and Ava Mark have been deserted since 2022 due to the instability, with their owners requesting compensation for damages sustained during airstrikes.
Shiladze, a sub-district of Amedi, is located some 56 miles east of Dohuk’s city center and had a population of nearly 50,000 people in 2019. Regular aerial bombardments by the Turkish military against reported PKK positions around Shiladze, however, have resulted in an exodus of residents, further putting off potential tourists to the area. In Shiladze, just 7 out of 92 villages are currently populated.
Ziad Rikani, an owner at Ava Mark, told 964media, “I have been working at this site for nearly 20 years where we had our camps and a market, but we had to leave it on April 16, 2022.”
Rikani said his market has sustained nearly six million dinars in losses ($4,580) and that he is awaiting a decision from relevant authorities after repeated appeals for compensation.
Hikmat Hamed, director of Amedi’s tourism board, said that the Kochka and Ava Mark areas have seen dismal tourist numbers for two years due to the instability, resulting in significant losses to the owners.
“We are holding discussions with relevant parties regarding compensation for the owners,” Hamed said.
Since 2011, Kochka and Ava Mark had been a significant tourist destination, attracting visitors year-round to the area’s scenic landscape, rivers, and mountains. However, since 2022, the sites have been abandoned and the attractions closed.
The conflict between the Turkish military and PKK has deeply affected the area, with more than half of the villages in Duhok’s Amedi district deserted.
According to 964media, Iraqi border guards have established bases in these areas in recent months, signaling a move toward normalization of daily and tourist activities.