JINHA

ŞIRNEX – For seven days, 19 wounded Cizre residents have been trapped in a basement under bombardment by Turkish state forces. The wounded, who have gone without water for three days, are on the point of death from thirst.

One week ago, 28 were left wounded as Turkish state forces continued brutal martial law attacks on the town of Cizre. The group took refuge in a basement, which came under state bombardment as tanks and police prevent ambulances from reaching the wounded and six dead bodies in the basement. Most recently, ambulances attempted for a third time to reach the building. Although healthcare workers had official approval to enter the area, the tanks bombarding the area from nearby Nusaybin Avenue turned them away.

Five of the 19 wounded residents are in critical condition, according to reports from inside the building. For three days, the wounded have been without any water. After finding a water tank that has been in the basement for months, they have been spreading the water on their lips with cotton to ward off thirst.

Mehmet Yavuzer, a member of the assembly of the Democratic Regions’ Party (DBP) and among the wounded in the basement, sent this message to those on the outside: “I’m going to kill myself; I don’t want to hear cries for water anymore. Nobody look for me, I’m going to kill myself. Water, I’m telling you, comrade—water, water….”

(at-ab-ma/gc/cm)