Duhok villagers return to homes despite ongoing Turkish bombardment

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Despite ongoing bombardments, several families from Kesta village in Duhok province have returned to their homes, nearly two weeks after fleeing due to clashes between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and Turkish army. 

The Turkish army launched two military operations in Duhok province’s Avashin, Basyan, and Metina areas on April 23. Kesta village, near the town of Amedi, was completely evacuated on May 3 due to the intensity of the bombardments.

Some families fled to the neighboring village of Chalke, which was also later abandoned.

Seven families decided to return to their homes on Friday, finding it difficult to find housing elsewhere.

Sima Mohammed, 55, was born and raised in Kesta. 

“When we returned, no one was here. Then, two to three of our relatives returned as well [...] We will do our best not to abandon our village, no matter what happens,” she told Rudaw on Friday.

Thirty-three families used to live in the village before the Turkish operation forced them to flee.  

Turkey bombarded the vicinity of the village on Friday, but this did not stop the families from returning.

Reving Hirori, a member of the Kurdistan Parliament, is from the area. He told Rudaw that people in the village are used to the bombings. 

“People are returning to the village because they have the will to do so. They felt unhappy when they abandoned their village. They have been living their lives, their ups and downs, in the village,” he said. 

“We did not want to have our village abandoned despite the fact that the bombardment continues,” said another villager, Saeed Kestayi.

The recent clashes Turkey-PKK clashes have damaged most of the houses in the village, with the remains of some rockets still lying in some gardens. 

In a statement shared by PKK-affiliated media on Friday, the group claimed that their members were able to prevent Turkish forces from entering the village, adding one Turkish soldier was killed during the clashes.

The Turkish defense ministry announced the death of a soldier in the vicinity, saying he was killed during an inspection of the area.

The PKK is an armed Kurdish group fighting for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. Ankara considers it a terrorist organization and a threat to its national security. Turkish forces regularly pursue the PKK within the Kurdistan Region’s borders. 

Additional reporting by Hunar Rasheed