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Returnees face ruins in southeastern Turkey

Dozens of people, who fled to nearby provinces from Yüksekova town due to the PKK threat, began returning after authorities announced that the curfew will be partially lifted as of 6 a.m. on May 30. A kilometres-long queue of cars appeared on the highway leading to Yüksekova, hours before the curfew was lifted. Gendarmerie stopped cars on the drive back to town at a security check point in Yeniköprü, 40 kilometres from Yüksekova, and asked for identity cards before residents were allowed to have access to the town since early morning. Police forces warned returnees of PKK bomb traps. All returnees are bracing themselves for an uphill struggle. Almost all the buildings in the town were either partially destroyed or completely ruined. Even a damaged mosque bears witness to the extensive destruction. Some residents were seen crying for the ruins. Local tradesmen opened their stores and began cleaning the ruins.