DUHOK, Kurdistan Region — The village of Sargale, located in the Amedi district, has been caught in a fierce battle between the Turkish army and members of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) in the past few months, rendering life increasingly challenging for its residents. Recently, a livestock project designed to house and manage over 700 sheep was completely demolished by Turkish airstrikes.
The project owner, Mam Peshkafty Rashid, had received a warning from the Turkish army on January 25, shortly before the airstrikes destroyed the facility. “Accusing someone of having ties with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is absurd,” Peshkafty said. “Owning 700 sheep would make them self-sufficient, eliminating the need for a government pension or support from the PKK.”
Ongoing Turkish operations and airstrikes in the Kurdistan Region continue to force villagers to flee and inflict damage on farming and livestock projects in the border areas of Duhok province.
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Peshkafty’s project has faced destruction twice: once by the Baathists during the Anfal campaign in 1988 and now by Turkish forces. After being displaced in 1988, he rebuilt the livestock facility in 2011 with government approval, only to see it destroyed once again.
The ongoing conflict has severely impacted local life. Villager Star Sargale says, “Our village faces constant bombardment, and while we are grateful to survive for now, there is no safety or stability. If this continues, we may not endure much longer.”
With only 40 out of 450 houses still inhabited, the community is struggling to cope. The conflict has rendered mountains, plains, and farmlands largely useless, leaving villagers with few viable options for the future.
Reporting by Ali Dewali, Zoom News reporter in Duhok.
