The European Kurdish Democratic Society Congress (KCDK-E) co-presidency Council called on people to join demonstrations against the embargo on Maxmur Refugee Camp on 24 and 25 July.

The demonstrations are to coincide with the anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanne, in 1923, which resulted in Kurdistan being divided.

The embargo on Maxmur Refugee Camp has been going on for more than 10 months.

The KCDK-E co-presidency Council said in a statement: “We are protesting the embargo and the siege imposed on the Maxmur Camp on the 97th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne that split Kurdistan.”

The statement recalled that the safety of Maxmur Camp will be requested given that the Camp is under UN protection.

The statement said that the Treaty of Lausanne is “a shameful treaty in which the usurping of the soil of the Kurdish people, their cultural heritage and values was officially sanctioned.”

The KCDK-E underlined that the “embargo and siege of Maxmur Camp has left thousands of people in a very difficult economical situation. The KDP forces prevent those who want to make a living from leaving the camp to reach other places. Again, because of the threat still posed by ISIS mercenaries in the region, people have also difficulties with animal husbandry. The embargo and siege have been going on for more than 10 months putting the people of Maxmur in danger in every sense.”

The statement also reminded that “Turkish airstrikes against the Maxmur Camp continue. Maxmur people are targeted by airstrikes. As it is known, dozens of people were injured in these attacks and some died.”

Although being recognized by the UN as a political refugee camp, silence prevails, said the KCDK-E. “Both the UN and the Iraqi central government have so far not reacted to the embargo and Turkish state's invading attacks. There is an urgent need to protect the people of Maxmur.”

The KCDK-E ended its statement with these remarks: “We will protest the embargo against Maxmur on the two-day march which will start in front of the UN in Geneva today and end tomorrow in front of the building where the Treaty of Lausanne was held. We will call on the UN to act for Maxmur which has been recognised as a political refugee camp.”