Mahmur (Martyr Rüştem Cudi) Camp in Mosul, which is located about 100 kilometers from Hewlêr (Erbil), the capital of the Iraqi Federated Kurdistan Region, has been under embargo for 1 year and 6 months. Those who migrated from the villages of Şırnak and Hakkari live in the camp. Scores of families living at the borders had to migrate to Federated Kurdistan District back in 90's because their villages were burned down by Turkey. The Kurds who migrated here established their own camps in Ninova, Zelê, Bihêrê, Seranîş, Besivê, Etrûş and Navdar (Nehdarê) with their own means. But the persecution of Turkey, Iraqi Government and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) on these camps did not end. While the Iraqi Government and the United Nations (BM) wanted to remove the Kurds from the region under the pressure of international forces, Hewlêr officials did not allow the immigrants to settle in Federated Kurdistan. As a last resort, they settled in the Maxmur Camp, located on the 36th parallel and under Saddam Hussein control. Maxmur became the 8th camp of Kurdish refugees. Established in 1998 and under the auspices of the UN, 12 thousand political refugees, mostly children and women, live in the camp. The camp is being targeted by Turkey from the day it was established.

 

THE 36TH PARALLEL IS UNDER OCCUPATION

 

Leyla Arzu Îlhan, Spokesperson of the Mahmur Camp Autonomous Women's Diplomacy Committee, drew attention to the attacks and pressures on the Mahmur Camp for the last two years and said that all four sides of the camp were surrounded. Stating that they have paid great prices due to the embargo and the blockade applied by the KDP with Turkey's instruction, Ilhan said: "The reason for the price we have paid is the hostility against Kurds applied by the KDP. Looking at the forces piling up in the region also reveals an alarming image. hese regions, which are named as the 36th parallel and on which Maxmur, Mosul, Kirkuk and Karaçox Mountain in Northern and Eastern Syria are located, are the richest places in terms of underground resources. Since oil and natural gas deposits are located in these regions, it has become the target of hegemonic powers. Hegemonic and local powers aim to use the oil here for their own interests. That is why, as the people of Maxmur, we are going through an alarming process.

 

 

SURROUNDED FROM ALL SIDES

 

Stating that four sides of the camp are surrounded by soldiers of different forces, Îlhan said, “KDP peshmergas have been placed on one side of the camp, but we cannot call them the KDP peshmerga. Because the KDP acts on the orders of other forces. Military power under the Iraqi central government is piled on one side of the camp. Again, there is the ISIS factor on the other side of the camp. ISIS members move around freely in the region. They attacked the camp many times. Again, our camp was bombed by the Turkish Armed Forces many times. We also paid a heavy price for this. Many of our citizens lost their lives and we went through a lot.  The region is facing a great danger due to its current situation. The purpose of all these attempts is to eliminate our existing willpower. But hegemonic forces should not forget that we have been struggling for 26 years to create an organized society as a camp. Mahmur Camp is always a target for the occupying forces."

 

ERDOĞAN PUTS A TARGET ON OUR BACK

 

Underlining that Maxmur Camp is in grave danger due to the policies in the region, Leyla Arzu Îlhan said: "We have seen the Roj Peshmerga acts on Turkey's instruction with our own eyes. Now, these gangs are located in the mountain behind the camp. This poses a great threat. On the other hand, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan puts a target on our backs before the eyes of the whole world. Our camp has been shelled dozens of times by the TSK war planes, and the air mobility continues in the region. We are surrounded by these 3 forces. And none of them are clean."

 

'WE CAN BREAK THE SIEGE TOGETHER'

 

Reminding that they have been political refugees under the roof of the United Nations for 26 years, Îlhan continued: "The UN must fulfill all its responsibilities regarding the camp. It has to protect the gains of the Kurdish people. Başur (south) is being invaded. The Kurdish people should see this clearly. We have to form a line of defense and act accordingly. We can break this siege together and protect our gains."