In Gavar, Turkey-PKK clashes ruined 5,000 homes, forced 80,000 to flee

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A five-week Turkish military operation against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its affiliated armed groups in Gavar in Turkey’s southeast has led to 80,000 people fleeing the town and the destruction of 5,000 homes, Kurdish officials said.

"The operation has ended. According to information received, 5,000 homes have been ruined," Salma Irmak, a pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) official, told Rudaw.

"In order to erect military positions at the strategic sites in Gavar, the state is ruining homes and that is why the (Culamerg governor) does not lift the curfew" imposed after clashes erupted in the town, Irmak said.

Some "80,000 civilians abandoned homes in Gavar," said Irfan Sari, head of the chamber of commerce in Culamerg province, where Gavar is located.

There are estimates that some 10,000 people are still left in Gavar.

The Culamerg governor imposed a military curfew on Gavar on March 13, to confront a PKK affiliated military wing called the Civilian Protection Units, known as YPS.

“A third of the town has been damaged, civilian homes have been bombed, places for rearing sheep have been burned and the state is now working on erecting (military) positions. Once finished, the curfew will be lifted," Sari said.

Irmak, who was an eyewitness, confirmed to Rudaw that 77 corpses were transferred to the Arizrum morgue for identification, including civilians. The majority, she said, were YPS fighters, with a few PKK guerillas.

Some 80 armored vehicles and 10,000 Turkish army soldiers were reportedly involved in the operation in the Qishla, Orman, Mazarlk and Cumhuriyet neighborhoods of Gavar, which turned into battlegrounds.

The town of Gavar is located at a junction bordering Iran and the Kurdistan Region. It is believed that in the near future a border gate between the Kurdistan Region and Gavar will be opened, adding to the town’s significance.

In Gavar, Turkey-PKK clashes ruined 5,000 homes, forced 80,000 to flee

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