Speaking to Dicle News Agency about the ongoing conflict in the West Kurdistan city of Serêkaniyê, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) district chair of Ceylanpınar (Urfa) warned that the conflict between gang groups and Kurds could turn into a Kurdish-Arabic conflict.

BDP Ceylanpınar chair Hüzni Kılıç pointed out that the people of Ceylanpınar are concerned over the conflict between Turkey-backed armed groups and People's Defense Units (YPG) forces in Serêkaniyê, and warned; “The people here could display an unavoidable reaction if it continues like this. The Kurds wounded in clashes aren't allowed into Ceylanpınar for treatment, while all the hospitals here are overcrowded by wounded members of the armed gang groups. Their leaders are in our district day and night as the conflict in Serêkaniyê is being coordinated from Ceylanpınar”.

Kılıç added that the residents of the district are reacting against the lack of opportunity to receive treatment in hospitals. They are nearly ready to rebel against the situation in the district, he noted.

Kılıç warned that the conflict between gang groups and Kurds could turn into a Kurdish-Arabic conflict and continued as follows; “Both the Kurds and Arabs in Serêkaniyê have relatives here in Ceylanpınar. The conflict in Serêkaniyê is about to expand to our district as artillery shootings have been carried out from our district as well, especially for the last several days. The residents here come us and complain about artillery shootings which they say are generally carried out after 12 am. Several days ago, people gathered in front of the hospital and displayed their reaction when a citizen in the district, Ahmet Özer, was wounded because of the shootings. The security director therewith promised them that the casualties will no more be referred to Ceylanpınar but clashes broke out in Serêkaniyê within the same day and wounded members of gang groups were once again brought to the hospitals here.”

Kılıç noted that the purpose of the armed gangs was to make Turkey enter into Serêkaniyê.

BDP Ceylanpınar chair said that representatives of the non-governmental organizations and political parties in the district have also displayed a reaction against the treatment of wounded members of armed groups at the hospitals of the district.

Giving information about the Telhamut Refugee Camp in the district, Kılıç said that “21 thousand people are currently living at the refugee camp here and there are only 400 are Kurds among them. The Kurdish people at the camp are facing a difficult situation as their families and relatives in Serêkaniyê are in desperate straits amidst conflicts.”