The situation in the region deteriorated after serious clashes between the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Turkish security forces. In the middle of October, about 100 people died as result of a bomb attack in Ankara on the Kurdish peace demonstration.
According to the newspaper, the local population describes war-like conditions and significant number of victims. One of the local residents told the newspaper Today's Zaman that they have no running water and that electricity transformers have exploded.
“I have seven children, they can no longer attend school. We have to drink the water, which we normally use in the toilet,” the woman said.
Another local resident said in an interview with Today's Zaman that his 11-year-old daughter was hit by a bullet when she went to buy bread. People no longer dare to go to the streets and that is why her body lied on the ground for about 15 minutes before anyone could go and help her, but it was too late.
"Now I have only two children left. We are in a poor situation," the man said, adding that he managed to take his family away from the conflict zone, but lacks money and can’t make ends meet.
The main goal of the operation, according to Ankara, is to eliminate Kurds who seized towns, constructed barricades and dug trenches.
The so called anti-terrorist operation started last week and has involved nearly 10,000 military and police forces. As result of the offensive, over 100 PKK militants have been destroyed.
