ŞIRNAK - The embargo has reached its 8th month in Mahmur Camp, which ISIS attacked recently. Serhat Taş, one of the citizens living in the camp, stated that some patients died due to the prevention of their treatment outside the camps.
Mahmur Camp, in the Mosul city of Federal Kurdistan Region was blockaded since an armed attack against the 3 officers working in Hewlêr consulate of Turkey on July 17, 2019. Citizens in the camp, which were exposed to ISIS attacks on February 2, have been facing a hard time due to the blockade that has been going on for about 8 months. Around 12,000 Kurds living in the camp, which had to migrate from the border cities in the 1990s and lived under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) in 1998, have difficulties in meeting their health and vital needs. Citizens and their relatives in the camp raised a call for the blockade to be lifted.
'PEOPLE DIED DUE TO NOT BEING TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL'
Serhat Taş (26), one of the citizens living in the camp, drew attention to that citizens, including children and the elderly, are wanted to be punished as a whole. Stating that they are not allowed to leave the camp, Taş said, “There are many people with cancer and high blood pressure patients in the camp. However they are not taken to the hospital because of the embargo applied. Many people lost their lives due to not being taken into hospital” Addressing that they have been facing both material and moral difficulties, Taş said, “Hewlêr security closed the roads completely and do not let whose who would like to enter the city. They rarely open the roads for the patients, but they do this already to late."
Reminding the ISIS attack on the camp recently, Taş stated that the attack in question caused fear: "Although these people were in heavy condition, they were not allowed to be taken to hospitals in Hewlêr."
HE RESEMBLED THE CAMP TO AN 'OPEN PRISON'
Ahmet Acar (32) whose father was injured by the ISIS attack that has been living in the camp for 13 years asked for the blockade to be removed. Acar said, "The last time I went to the camp was on February 12. The camp is under difficult living conditions. There is no opportunity to work there. They can't get out of the camp. This is a hostility policy. This needs to be resolved." As he informed that the health status of his father, who was injured in the ISIS attack, is in good condition, Acar stated, "People are afraid there, in terms of their security, cause ISIS barbarians have no morals. Isolating the people in the camp is no alternative. People living in the camp are like living in an open prison. Necessary measures should be taken and the conditions of the camp should be improved."