Kurdish villages depopulated by Turkey

The number of Kurdish villages depopulated by Turkey is estimated at around 3,000. Since 1984, the Turkish military has embarked on a campaign to eradicate the Kurdistan Workers Party; by the year 2000, some 30,000 people had died and two million Kurdish refugees had been driven out of their homes into cities.^[1][2]

A previously depopulated Kurdish village; Ulaş, in Dargeçit District

Background

Until the 1970s, about 70% of the Kurdish population of Turkish Kurdistan inhabited one of the approximately 20,000 Kurdish villages.^[3] But by 1985, only 58% of the population were still living in the rural areas and much of the countryside in Kurdish populated regions had been depopulated by the Turkish government,^[3] with Kurdish civilians moving to local centers such as Diyarbakır, Van, and Şırnak, as well as to the cities of western Turkey and even to western Europe. The causes of the depopulation were in most cases the Turkish state's military operations and to a lesser extent attacks by the PKK on villages it deemed defended by collaborators of the Turkish Government.^[3] Often Kurds had to decide whether to become a member of the state-sponsored Village Guards, be deported or else they could face attacks by the PKK.^[4] Human Rights Watch has documented many instances where the Turkish military forcibly evacuated villages, destroying houses and equipment to prevent the return of the inhabitants.^[4] An estimated 3,000 Kurdish villages in Southeast Anatolia^[3] were virtually wiped from the map, representing the displacement of more than 378,000 people.^[4] During the 1990s, the Turkish military reportedly deployed the US manufactured helicopters Sikorsky and Cobra to drive out the Kurdish population from the villages.^[5]

Depopulated and demolished towns and villages

According to the Humanitarian Law Project, 2,400 Kurdish villages have been destroyed and 18,000 Kurds have been executed by the Turkish government. Other estimates have put the number of destroyed Kurdish villages at over 4,000. In total, up to 3,000,000 people (mainly Kurds) have been displaced.^[6]

The Kurdish Human Rights Project divides the depopulation (evacuation) of villages in 5 phases.^[7]

• The initial phase between 1985 and 1989
• The phase of centralization during 1990–1991
• the phase of the systematic village evacuation between 1992 and 1993
• the phase of the escalation of the village evacuation in 1994
• between 1995 and 2001, further villages were depopulated

An estimated 1,000,000 people are still internally displaced as of 2009^[update].^[8]

Timeline

1992

• November – Kelekçi village destruction

Government compensation

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre stated in 2009 that the Turkish government has taken "notable" steps to address the internal displacement situation. These include commissioning a national survey on the number and conditions of IDPs, drafting a national IDP strategy, adopting law on compensation, and putting together a comprehensive pilot action plan in Van Province and 13 other south-eastern provinces addressing rural and urban situations of displacement.^[8]

Depopulated villages (as of 2024)

List of villages which have been depopulated as of 2024:^[9]

Province	District	Village		Province	District	Village
Şırnak Province	Beytüşşebap	Dilekyolu		Hakkari	Şemdinli	Ayranlı
		Dönmezler				Çevre
		Kovankaya (Assyrian)				Meşelik
		Tuzluca			Yüksekova	Ikiyaka
		Yenice				Yazılı
	Cizre	Aşağıdere				Pirinçeken
	Güçlükonak	Bulmuşlar			Çukurca	Çağlayan
		Çetinkaya				Çayırlı
		Erdurdu				Çınarlı
		Eskikapı				Dede
		Kırkağaç				Işıklı
		Özbaşoğlu				Kavaklı
		Yenidemir				Kavuşak
	İdil	Ozan				Kurudere
		Yaylaköy		Siirt	Pervari	Medrese
	Silopi	Ballıkaya		Bitlis	Bitlis	Esenburun
		Derebaşı		Batman	Hasankeyf	Gaziler
		Düzalan		Bingöl	Kiğı	Çomak
		Karacaköy		Mardin	Dargeçit	Ormaniçi
		Koyunören			Nusaybin	Değirmencik
		Uyanık				Kaleli
		Yazıköy			Ömerli	Dönërdere
	Şırnak	Alkemer
		Anılmış
		Boyunkaya
		Çadırlı
		Çakırsöğüt
		Güleşli
		Günedoğmuş
		İnceler
		Kapanlı
		Karageçit
		Koçağılı
		Kuşkonar
		Seslice
		Tekçınar
		Üçkıraz
	Uludere	Akduman
		Doğan
		Onbudak

Villages repopulated after 2007

List of villages that have been repopulated after 2007:

Province	District	Village	Info
Batman	Gercüş	Cevizli	Unpopulated until 2016[9]
	Kozluk	Kolludere	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Hasankeyf	Palamut	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Bingöl	Yedisu	Akımlı	Unpopulated until 2014[9]
	Yayladere	Alınyazı	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Kiğı	Baklalı	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Yayladere	Bilekkaya	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Yayladere	Boğazköy	Unpopulated until 2014[9]
	Adaklı	Cevizli	Unpopulated until 2009[9]
	Yayladere	Çatalkaya	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Yayladere	Gökçedal	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Kiğı	İlbeyi	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Yayladere	Kırköy	Unpopulated until 2014[9]
	Kiğı	Kutluca	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Adaklı	Maltepe	Unpopulated until 2024[9]
	Yayladere	Yavuztaş	Unpopulated until 2009[9]
	Kiğı	Yukarıserinyer	Unpopulated until 2012[9]
Bitlis	Tatvan	Anadere	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Bitlis	Aşağıbalcılar	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Tatvan	Çavuşlar	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Bitlis	Ilıcak	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Bitlis	Kayalıbağ	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Bitlis	Kınalı	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Tatvan	Odabaşı	Unpopulated until 2012[9]
	Bitlis	Oğulcak	Unpopulated until 2022[9]
	Bitlis	Sarpkaya	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Bitlis	Uçankuş	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Bitlis	Üçevler	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Diyarbakır	Ergani	Devletkuşu	Unpopulated until 2009[9]
	Çınar	Gürses	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Ergani	Kavurmaküpü	Unpopulated until 2009[9]
	Dicle	Kırkpınar	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Dicle	Kurşunlu	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Bismil	Kurudeğirmen	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Dicle	Taşağıl	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Lice	Yolçatı	Unpopulated until 2009[9]
Erzurum	Hınıs	Ilıcaköy	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Hakkari	Hakkari	Aksu	Unpopulated until 2015[9]
	Çukurca	Cevizli	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Çukurca	Kazan	Unpopulated until 2014[9]
	Yüksekova	Sürekli	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Hakkari	Yoncalı	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
Iğdır	Aralık	Tarlabaşı	Unpopulated until 2022[9]
Mardin	Dargeçit	Akçaköy	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Derik	Bağarası	Unpopulated until 2023[9]
	Dargeçit	Çavuşlu	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Dargeçit	Korucu	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Dargeçit	Kumdere	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Dargeçit	Kuşluca	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Midyat	Oyuklu	Unpopulated until 2012[9]
	Nusaybin	Pazarköy	Unpopulated until 2016[9]
	Nusaybin	Tekağaç	Unpopulated until 2022[9]
	Ömerli	Topağaç	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Dargeçit	Ulaş	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Midyat	Yenice	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
Siirt	Eruh	Akmeşe	Unpopulated until 2014[9]
	Siirt	Bağlıca	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Eruh	Bingöl	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Şirvan	Cevizdalı	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Eruh	Kovanağzı	Unpopulated until 2023[9]
	Eruh	Narlıdere	Unpopulated until 2024[9]
	Siirt	Yazlıca	Unpopulated until 2009[9]
	Eruh	Yanılmaz	Unpopulated until 2009[9]
Şırnak	Güçlükonak	Ağaçyurdu	Unpopulated until 2014[9]
	Silopi	Aksu (Assyrian)	Unpopulated until 2019[9]
	Şırnak	Atbaşı	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Şırnak	Bağpınar	Unpopulated until 2018[9]
	Güçlükonak	Demirboğaz	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Beytüşşebap	Doğanyol	Unpopulated until 2016[9]
	Şırnak	Kemerli	Unpopulated until 2024[9]
	Şırnak	Kırkkuyu	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Şırnak	Körüklükaya	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Silopi	Kösreli (Assyrian)	Unpopulated until 2015[9]
	İdil	Mağaraköy	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Güçlükonak	Taşkonak	Unpopulated until 2014[9]
	Beytüşşebap	Toptepe	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Silopi	Selçik	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Silopi	Yolağzı	Unpopulated until 2019[9]
	Şırnak	Cevizdüzü	Unpopulated until 2023[9]
Tunceli	Ovacık	Ağaçpınar	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Pülümür	Ağaşenliği	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Pülümür	Akdik	Unpopulated until 2009[9]
	Ovacık	Aktaş	Unpopulated until 2014[9]
	Pülümür	Altınhüseyin	Unpopulated until 2009[9]
	Ovacık	Aşlıca	Unpopulated until 2009[9]
	Tunceli	Babaocağı	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Ovacık	Bilekli	Unpopulated until 2015[9]
	Ovacık	Bilgeç	Unpopulated until 2018[9]
	Hozat	Boydaş	Unpopulated until 2018[9]
	Ovacık	Buzlutepe	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Pülümür	Çağlayan	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Tunceli	Çalkıran	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Ovacık	Çambulak	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Ovacık	Çatköy	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Ovacık	Çayüstü	Unpopulated until 2012[9]
	Tunceli	Dikenli	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Tunceli	Dilek	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Nazımiye	Doğantaş	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Ovacık	Doludibek	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Pülümür	Efeağılı	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Ovacık	Eğimli	Unpopulated until 2012[9]
	Ovacık	Eğrikavak	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Tunceli	Eğriyamaç	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Ovacık	Elgazi	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Ovacık	Eskigedik	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Ovacık	Garipuşağı	Unpopulated until 2014[9]
	Tunceli	Gözen	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Ovacık	Halitpınar	Unpopulated until 2015[9]
	Ovacık	Işıkvuran	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Ovacık	Karataş	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Pülümür	Kaymaztepe	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Hozat	Kızılmescit	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Ovacık	Koruköy	Unpopulated until 2018[9]
	Hozat	Kozluca	Unpopulated until 2014[9]
	Hozat	Kurukaymak	Unpopulated until 2022[9]
	Ovacık	Kuşluca	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Ovacık	Otlubahçe	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Tunceli	Pınar	Unpopulated until 2008[9]
	Ovacık	Şahverdi	Unpopulated until 2012[9]
	Pülümür	Şampaşakaraderbendi	Unpopulated until 2009[9]
	Ovacık	Tepsili	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Ovacık	Yakatarla	Unpopulated until 2011[9]
	Ovacık	Yalmanlar	Unpopulated until 2013[9]
	Ovacık	Yarımkaya	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
	Ovacık	Yoğunçam	Unpopulated until 2014[9]
	Hozat	Yüceldi	Unpopulated until 2010[9]
Van	Gürpınar	Bükeç	Unpopulated until 2009[9]

See also

• Kurds in Turkey
• Kurdish villages destroyed during the Iraqi Arabization campaign
• December 2015–February 2016 Cizre curfew