JINHA

ŞIRNEX – It has emerged that a large number of people have been killed in a basement in the Sur neighborhood of the besieged town of Cizre. Our agency has reached Derya Koç, former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) local chair and one of those trapped in the basement, who said that the group are currently surrounded and could be killed any minute.

New information has emerged about a basement where citizens are trapped by state forces in the besieged town of Cizre, the third “basement of atrocity” to be discovered. It has emerged that as many as 20 civilians were killed in the basement several hours ago by state forces’ tank fire.

Derya Koç, former district co-chair for the HDP in Milas, Turkey, has provided updates on the latest situation in the basement. Derya is among the wounded trapped in the Sur neighborhood basement.

Derya had to speak briefly and in a low voice because the basement is currently surrounded by state forces.

“Our situation right now is extremely critical,” said Derya. “They have burned to death around 20 of our wounded friends in this basement in the bottom floor. Around 15 of us are left. We’re currently surrounded by tanks. They’re opening fire on us. We could be burned up at any moment.

“It is urgent that the people come here immediately,” said Derya. “They opened fire around an hour ago and killed our wounded friends. There are just 15 of us alive and we’re all wounded. We’re in the Sur neighborhood. We’re surrounded by tanks. There’s no phone service. The phone could go at any moment. I have to hang up right now. They have us surrounded.”

(at-ab-ma/gc/cm)