On February 6, two major earthquakes struck the Kurdish regions of Turkey (Northern Kurdistan), killing tens of thousands of people and causing a great humanitarian disaster. 

In a statement on Friday, February 9, the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), an umbrella organization of the Kurdish freedom movement of which the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) is also a member, called for a halt of military actions in Turkey, in metropolises and cities. “It is necessary to prevent the people from experiencing even more suffering in this affliction”, said Cemil Bayık, co-chairman of the executive council of the KCK.

The Central Headquarters of the People's Defence Forces (HSM) expressed support for the KCK's call and said on February 11 that the guerrillas were ready to do their part to alleviate the suffering of people.

Even catastrophes like the devastating series of earthquakes in the country cannot dissuade the Turkish state from maintaining its anti-Kurdish stance. Despite a catastrophe of apocalyptic proportions with tens of thousands of dead and injured, the Turkish army continues its aggression against the Kurdish guerrillas unabated.

The Press Centre of the People's Defence Forces (HPG) reported continued attacks on the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). According to the statement, guerrilla areas were subject to nonstop attacks with banned bombs, howitzers and heavy weapons on Wednesday, February 15.

The guerrilla positions near the village of Sida, in the Sheladize sub-district of Amadiya, were bombed by the Turkish army with unconventional bombs on Wednesday.

On February 14, the area of Deşta Kafya in the Gare region was shelled by fighter jets five times.

The Girê FM resistance area, the region of Çemço and the guerrilla positions near Sida were attacked with howitzers, tanks and heavy weapons at least 43 times on February 15 and 16.