Life back to normal in Şırnak as curfew partially lifted


A curfew in the southeastern province of Şırnak was partially lifted on Sunday for the first time in 82 days.

Until yesterday, residents of the province had been adhering to a curfew between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. after it was put into place on March 14 due to ongoing counterterrorism operations against the PKK terrorist organization.

Şırnak residents have begun returning to the war-torn region after 246 days. Counterterrorism operations in the province destroyed 1,845 handmade explosives and left 508 PKK terrorists dead. Security forces also destroyed 240 PKK-erected barricades.

Locals are being allowed to return to their homes after passing security checks at checkpoints set up across the province. Many people have been seen returning to their homes with their belongings.

Students will also be able to return to Şırnak schools where clashes with the PKK saw the closure of public educational institutions that were damaged. After passing state inspection these schools are being reopened after months of being closed.

The Ministry of Environment and Urbanization announced on Friday that some 30,000 new homes will be constructed in Turkey's southeast, which has been heavily affected during counterterror operations against the PKK:"Minister Özhaseki said that "Nearly 30,000 houses were condemned as a result of clashes with the PKK. Meanwhile, because [pro-PKK] municipalities in the region have prioritized PKK terrorists operating in the Qandil Mountain [PKK headquarters] rather than the local civilians they are responsible for serving, citizens do not have access to infrastructural services."