MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

News Center- Forest fires broke out in the cities such as Dersim, Bitlis, Bingöl and Şırnak continue for days. While citizens living in the cities are trying to extinguish the fires, the state authorities do nothing to extinguish the fire. Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Ecology Commission Member Nurcan Karasu commented on the causes of forest fires break out every summer in the Kurdish region and their effects on nature.

“The aim is to depopulate the region”

Talking about wildfires broke out in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions, Nurcan Karasu said the cause of those fires was climate change. “But the cause of forest fires in the Kurdish region starting in May and continuing until  September every summer is military operations are launched in the region. The conflicts in the region show that there is a war against not only people but also nature. The aim of the operation launched for “security” reasons is to evacuate, depopulate the region. Many villages have been already evacuated due to dams built in the region.”

“Waiting for intervention is vain”

The policies that are carried out in the region show that waiting for an intervention into forest fires is vain, Nurcan Karasu said, “The mayor of the city (Dersim) is not allowed to extinguish the fire. He was also threatened by the Hozat District Governor. The forest fires should first be extinguished and then cooling works from air and land should be organized.”

“Forests destroy habitats”

Nurcan Karasu drew attention to how forest fires damage the forest ecosystem. “The ecosystem of forests consists not only of trees but also animals and microorganisms. The forests are the habitats of animals. Dersim, Bingöl, and Şırnak are cities rich in endemic species. Wildcats, Ur partridges, and mountain goats are considered endangered and the forests in these cities are their habitats. The forest fires destroy not only our nature, animals, and our lives.”