Amirnisan Gorgis is from the Christian village of Sharansh in Duhok’s Zakho city. He and his family have fled their village due to Turkish bombardment four years ago. They live in a rental house in the Bersiv region in the same province. He told Rudaw’s Yusuf Musa on Tuesday that he plans to migrate to Australia in July when the current academic year ends.
“I have turned 62 and I have built several houses but have been displaced five times. I have spent most of my age in displacement,” he said, adding that he wants to join his son in Australia.
Turkey has intensified its military activities in Zakho in the last few years, leading to the displacement of a large number of people.
Out of 20 Christian villages in Zakho, nine have been evacuated, according to local authorities.
Turkey launched a fresh military offensive against the PKK in Duhok province on Monday, creating more fear among villagers. No material damage or civilian casualties have been reported so far.
Jony Dawoud Hana is the priest of Bersiv Church. He used to be the priest of 85 families in Sharansh five years ago. The village has been evacuated and he has been displaced due to Turkey-PKK clashes.
“Most of the villages which are located in mountainous areas have been emptied and the churches have been closed. We call on the Turkish government, the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi government to reverse this because churches should not be closed, God’s home should not be closed,” he told Rudaw.
The affected families have not been compensated.
