The operation launched by Turkey on April 23 against the Zap, Metîna and Avaşîn regions of the Federated Kurdistan Region continues. While the use of chemical weapons in the region by Turkey has caused reactions, demonstrations against these attacks continue in many countries for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to conduct an investigation in the region. Environmental Lawyer and Co-Chair of the Kurdistan Nature Organization Serwer Qeredaxî, who conducts research in the region, evaluated the effects of chemical weapons.

 

A WAR AGAINST NATURE

 

Expressing that the ecology of the region faces serious destruction with the use of chemical weapons, Qeredaxî said, "Its not just war that kills people. People die of air pollution, toxic water, draught. When a country is invaded, its ecology suffers the most. This war Turkey started is a war against the environment and the world. Turkey wants to destroy the ecological balance of Kurdistan and destroy all plant varieties and animals living in this geography. This massacre is currently being carried out on the territory of Kurdistan." 

 

1300 ATTACKS IN A YEAR

 

Stating that the ecological balance has been damaged as a result of the attacks carried out by Turkey to date, Qeredaxî said, "The Turkish army carried out 698 artillery attacks and 555 aerial attacks on the territory of Kurdistan from 2015 to 2019. In 2020 alone, Turkey carried out 1,300 attacks with warplanes and artillery shells. Turkish army bombed dozens of areas in Avaşin region such as Kesta, Hûre, Ura and Mîska more than once. Turkey tested all kinds of weapons on the territory of Kurdistan. Banned chemical weapons, tanks, mortars, F -16 planes, Skorsky and Cobra type helicopters, docka and many other weapons were used in this region.

 

PERMANENT DAMAGE ON WATER AND SOIL

 

Pointing out that the effects of chemical weapons used in the region will last for years, Qeredaxî said, "The use of chemical weapons and toxic gases is prohibited by international agreements. However, the Turkish army used chemical weapons more than once in Kurdistan and Iraq, which caused human deaths in the region, polluted the environment and caused poisonous gases. Agricultural lands burned with bombardments affect the properties, structure, physical and biological aspects of the lands. This situation will have an impact on the crops to be planted in the following years. And the effects of these weapons will cause permanent damage in the lands and waters of Kurdistan. But there is a wall of silence in the face of these major violations. Banned weapons continue to be used in the region because the international community, as well as the Government of Bashure Kurdistan and Iraq, remain silent." 

 

WE SHOULD NOT REMAIN SILENT

 

Reminding that the government continues to remain silent despite all  their attempts, Qeredaxî said, "We have issued a statement regarding the silence of the governments of Bashure Kurdistan and Iraq against the crimes committed by the Turkish army against the environment since the first day. In addition, we held press releases and rallies." Stating that international nature organizations should not remain silent, Qeredaxî noted that Article 33 of the Iraqi Constitution, which defines providing a healthy environment and protecting different living things as the duty of the state, was also violated. 

 

'OPERATIONS MUST END' 

 

Expressing that the destruction and plunder of nature in the region can only be stopped by preventing operations, Qeredaxî demanded that Turkey stop using chemical weapons and plundering nature in the region.

 

MA / Zeynep Durgut