Injured Taking Shelter in Basement Waiting for Ambulance for Days in Cizre

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 The persons injured in Cudi neighbourhood of Cizre district of Şırnak have taken shelter in a basement. Three of the 28 injured have lost their lives and the rest are still waiting for the ambulance.

In his statement made to bianet, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Şırnak MP Faysal Sarıyıldız has noted that the injured persons had not been able to get out due to shootings and it was of vital importance to provide ceasefire and help for the neighbourhood.

“We have not been able to get the ones in the basement out yet, the inhuman situation continues. They are calling 155 (police emergency line) which tells them to get out of there yet fire is being opened on the ones who do so.

“In the meetings held with the Governor it is being told that they should get out on the street and the ambulance would pick them up but they can’t make it to the ambulance.

“Three persons have died from yesterday to today. One of them is a woman and the two others are university students.

“Cihan Karaman has lost his life although European Court of Human Rights had granted him an interlocutory injunction. He had been injured due to a bomb hitting his neighbourhood. A shrapnel piece had hit his heart. We had called 112 and ordered an ambulance.

“Also Cihan’s father had contacted the sub-Governor who has supposedly interrogated him first and told later that an ambulance would be sent. The ambulance was supposed to come to a place on İpekyolu Street in 100 meters distance to pick him up. It supposedly has left the hospital but could not make it to the meeting point due to opened fire.

Cihan therefore has gone out on the street to reach the hospital and tried to walk to the hospital during shootings yet had to come back. Also fire has been opened on the place where he came back and Cihan has lost his life on that night”.

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They have been in the basement for five days

Sarıyıldız has noted that help should be brought immediately for the ones taking shelter in the basement, and a team of 15 persons would be needed to transport the injured:  

“Also the ones who came out of that neighbourhood have taken shelter in the basement of that building. For five days the injured have been waiting for help without food and water. Also the supplies like bandages have gone out. Among them there are also ones who are severely injured.

“A team of 15-20 persons should be assigned to pick them up. The injured are not able to walk. In addition fire has been opened on all stores of the building where they have taken shelter and the building has gone to rack and ruined.

“Fire should be ceased in that neighbourhood to make it possible for those people to get out, immediately”.

Since December 14, 2015 curfews as well as police and military operations continue in Cizre. According to the report the Turkish Human Rights Association (TİHV) Documentation Center, 66 civilians have lost their lives in the district. (AS/DG)

* Photograph: Anadolu (Anatolian) Agency