Turkish minister: PKK damaged over 70,000 houses in SE

The environment and urbanization minister said Tuesday that Ankara was rehabilitating over 70,000 houses in southeastern Turkey damaged by the PKK terror group.

Speaking at the Anadolu Agency Editors' Desk, Mehmet Özhaseki said 45,000 had been slightly damaged and that reparations had been paid for. Another 26,000 houses were heavily damaged and needed rebuilding.

"We started [rebuilding] 26,000 houses. We completed most of them, and the construction of some is still continuing," Özhaseki said.

He described the interior of the newly rebuilt houses as comfortable.

Özhaseki said terror groups like PKK want to establish a terror state in the region but that Turkey cracked down on them decisively.

He also thanked the people of southeastern Turkey for not supporting the PKK.

"They have not agreed with the terrorists, they have not stood by with them," Özhaseki said.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years and has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children.

More than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians have been killed since July 2015 alone when the group resumed its armed campaign against the country.