Condition of civilians who have been under siege in Diyarbakır’s Sur district since December 2 worsens. Children, babies, and sick and elderly people are among these civilians. Diyarbakır Governorate claimed that there are no civilians in Sur because nobody left their houses after the announcement of state forces.

DBP Diyarbakır Co-President Ali Şimşek and HDP Diyarbakır parliamentarian Sibel Yiğitalp emphasized that there are nearly 200 civilians trapped in Sur, and reminded the videos sent by these civilians. Şimşek and Yiğitalp highlighted the need for ending the curfew so that civilians could leave the buildings.

Şimşek stated that nearly 200 people had to seek refuge in several buildings under state bombardment. Şimşek said that these civilians move from house to house due to the on-going bombardment, and the Diyarbakır Governorate’s proposal of evacuating the civilians within one hour was not realistic due to the conditions on the ground and the number of wounded and sick people as well as children and dead bodies.

Şimşek emphasized that people had not trust in the state because of the attacks, and 5 civilians including a journalist were arrested as soon as they left the houses they had been seeking refuge in. Şimşek noted that civilians in Sur demand guarantees that they would not be killed or arrested once they leave the buildings, and the governorate has not yet offered these guarantees.

Şimşek stated that ending the curfew and sending in ambulances were necessary for the evacuation of civilians and wounded people. Şimşek said that NGO representatives and city notables should enter the neighborhoods so that trapped individuals have the confidence needed in order to leave the buildings.

DBP Diyarbakır Co-President Şimşek stated that HDP Bağlar Co-President was also trapped in Sur and reported that children between the ages of 2 and 4 were among the trapped civilians.

HDP Amed parliamentarian Sibel Yiğitalp reiterated the need for ending the curfew for the solution of this problem, and recalled that the trapped civilians had no confidence in the state because they think they will be killed as soon as they leave the buildings.