“Ezidis Aren’t Refugees, But Dwellers of This Land”
Following ISIS aggression in Iraq’s Sinjar district, thousands of Ezidis fled their homes to look for a refuge.
While some of them spread around different parts of Iraq, others moved to Syria’ s Kurdish-controlled Rojava region.
The number of Ezidi refugees from Sinjar reached 20,000 in Turkey. And the toll is on the rise.
The estimated distribution is as follows: Şırnak (2,000), Silopi (2,000), Roboski (500), Mardin (1,500), Midyat (2,300), Urfa Viranşehir (1,000), Batman (2,500), Diyarbakır (3,000).
Ezidis were mostly received in municipality guesthouses as well as tents, schools and resident houses.
HDP Şırnak deputy Selma Irmak told bianet that municipalities and local residents took over the responsibility of providing support, and the government support was not enough.
Only 500 Ezidis before
There are 100 abandoned Ezidi villages in Turkey located in the southeastern provinces such as Batman, Mardin, Diyarbakır and Viranşehir. Prior to the recent reception, there were only 500 Ezidis in Turkey. Towards the end of 19th century, Turkey’s Ezidis left their villages , moving to Europe, Syria, Armenia and Sinjar. (NV/BM)
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.