ERBIL — The presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has devastated the agricultural and tourism sectors in Duhok province, Amedi mayor said on Monday.
Amedi Mayor Warsin Salman said in a statement that due to the PKK militants and headquarters in the region, a total of "197 villagers have been evicted from their villages since 1992."
"The people of the villages cannot go to their villages to take care of their orchards and livestock, wasting important economic resources for the district, which is considered one of the vital areas in the economic, agricultural, and tourism fields," he added.
The local official noted that 62% of Amedi district is now "deserted" due to the PKK presence and its decades-long military conflict with the Turkish army.
The Turkish army has intensified bombardments in the border areas of Kurdistan Region over the past months, saying that it is targeting the positions of the PKK in the region.