ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Residents of a village fled their homes later Thursday after Turkish bombardment intensified in Duhok province. It is the third village in the north of the province that has been evacuated in the area, nearly one month after Ankara launched its latest offensive against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Nuri Amin, chief (mukhtar) of Deshish village, told Rudaw that fewer than five families remain in the settlement after they fled on Thursday. Turkey has been bombing the surrounding area continually for the last couple of days, he added. "After Turkish troops arrived, our conditions worsened," added Amin. "I have beehives in my village, but I have abandoned them." He appealed to Erbil and Baghdad for help. The Turkish army launched two military operations in Duhok province's Avashin, Basyan, and Metina areas on April 23. Kesta village, near the town of Amedi, was completely evacuated on May 3 due to the severity of the bombardment. The neighboring Chalke was abandoned a few days later. Many families have returned to Kesta despite ongoing bombardment in the surrounding area. Deshish villager, Willat Ali told Rudaw he and some relatives wanted to work on their farm, but heard bombing and left. "The distance between us and the bombs was less than 100 meters," he said. His mother, Maqbila Hamid, sighed: "We have been building a new house in Deshish every year. We have built five so far.” The families have mostly fled to elsewhere within Duhok province.
