Displaced Kurdish villagers in northern Iraq are hopeful about returning home after the PKK declared a ceasefire against Turkey. This ceasefire, following a call to disarm by PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, may stabilize the region. The ongoing conflict has led to the destruction of villages and displacement, with many individuals yearning for peace and a return to farming their lands. Skepticism remains due to historical failures of peace initiatives.
The northern Iraqi mountains have long served as a refuge for Kurdish militants opposing the Turkish government. Iraqi Kurdish villagers, displaced by the ongoing conflict between Turkish forces and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), are beginning to hope for a return home following the PKK’s recent ceasefire declaration. This truce, initiated by Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned PKK leader, could stabilize the tumultuous border region and potentially allow displaced residents to reclaim their homes.
Years of Turkish offensives have resulted in widespread displacement, with entire villages emptied as a result of the conflict. Adil Tahir Qadir, who fled his village in 1988 during Saddam Hussein’s campaign against the Kurds, now lives in a new village of the same name. He expresses a strong desire to return, stating, “We wish it will work so we can return” if peace prevails.
In Iraq’s Dohuk province, the conflict has left around 200 villages deserted, transforming once-thriving agricultural communities into ghost towns. As locals have fled to safer zones, Salih Shino recalls the constant threat from airstrikes, saying, “The bombings start every afternoon and intensify through the night,” causing fear and disruption in their daily lives.
Residents like Najib Khalid Rashid also live in constant fear of bombings that disrupt their ability to tend to their livestock and lands. Rashid calls for unity among Kurdish factions in order to achieve peace, emphasizing that disunity will yield no positive results.
Ahmad Saadullah reminisces about the region’s self-sufficiency before the conflict. Today, many villagers depend on inconsistent government aid and temporary jobs, while living under the looming threat of violence, describing their situation with the hope that future peace efforts will be successful. Farooq Safar recalls a frightening experience during a drone strike, highlighting the dangers of their environment and expressing skepticism about the viability of the latest ceasefire despite a desire for peace, stating, “We hope this time will be different.”
The declaration of a ceasefire by the PKK provides a glimmer of hope for the displaced Kurdish villagers in northern Iraq, who have long suffered due to the ongoing conflict with Turkish forces. This potential truce may enable these individuals to return to their homes and restore a semblance of stability to the region. However, past attempts at peace have often been unsuccessful, leaving many cautious about the future. Ultimately, unity among Kurdish factions and sustained efforts towards lasting peace will be essential for rebuilding these communities.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
