Savaş, Cemal Yılmaz, Hasırlı and Fatihpaşa neighborhoods in Amed's central Sur district were razed during the curfew that had begun on December 2, 2015. The destruction that had continued non-stop since the end of the operations in March stopped a week ago. Hasırlı and Savaş neighborhoods, where diggers continuously destroyed buildings, have been completely destroyed. Very few houses remain in Fatihpaşa and Cemal Yılmaz neighborhoods. Construction vehicles have not been working in Sur over the past week.

Under the name of ‘Suriçi Construction Project,’ the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning aims to carry out gentrification and urban transformation and began its efforts after the clashes. Officials started to restore historical houses and mosques, and say that the curfew will last for another year until these works are completed.

‘WHY IS THE SIEGE NOT LIFTED?’

Residents of Sur that had filed petitions and entered their houses say that not even a single building remains in their neighborhoods, and workers pillaged the houses before razing them. Residents noted that the destruction has stopped recently, and asked why could the siege not be lifted so that they have access to their houses.