Village under military blockade: Even breathing is forbidden in Wergenima

img

COLEMÊRG – Wergenima, a village in Gever that has faced restricted anty and exit since 2016, is surrounded by military towers and border walls. In the village, which resembles a prison, not only cultural activities but even breathing is prohibited due to the dusty roads.

 
Wergenima, a village in the Gever (Yüksekova) district of Colemêrg (Hakkari), has been under heavy military restrictions since 2016. Located on the Iranian border, the village has been turned into a militarized zone surrounded by border walls and guard towers. Due to military prohibitions and blockades imposed under the pretext of border security, the village has been subjected to intense pressure for years. Highland pastures have been banned, grazing areas declared military zones, and access to water sources obstructed. Landmines, dust clouds from broken roads, and unreachable water sources due to the border wall are making life increasingly difficult. Landmines left uncleared in areas where children play continue to claim lives. Most recently, a child named Yusuf Akın was severely injured in an explosion while playing near a military post.
 
SURROUNDED BY 4 MILITARY POSTS AND 12 GUARD TOWERS
 
The village is now encircled by four military border posts and 12 watchtowers built in recent years. During military road construction, many irrigation channels were destroyed, and the resulting dust clouds are worsening health issues. A significant rise in asthma and respiratory illnesses has been reported.
 
Entry to and exit from the village is only allowed between 07:00 a.m. and 07:00 p.m. In the evenings, even residents must obtain a special permit from the district governor's office to enter the village. Relatives not registered in the village are not allowed in under any circumstances, even for weddings or emergencies. Relatives with Iranian citizenship are entirely prohibited from entering.
 
EVEN WEDDING RITUALS BANNED
 
Traditional wedding rituals have also been banned. Cultural elements like drums and zurna are prohibited, forcing villagers to hold quiet and sparsely attended weddings. Since grazing is banned in highlands such as Berekeşk, Odemiş, Meydanok, and Mênûşa, there are no shepherds left in the village. Even those who want to graze livestock must get a permit. These prohibitions have nearly wiped out agriculture and livestock farming. While the village once had over 150 homes, only 25 remain due to migration caused by bans and repression.
 
THEY CAN'T EVEN BREATHE
 
Dust clouds surrounding the village from road construction sites are causing serious health problems, especially among children. Hülya Şen, a resident, said: “Our children are constantly getting infections. We can’t even hang out our laundry. We want the roads to be paved and to live freely in this village.”
 
ONLY 25 HOMES LEFT FROM THE ORIGINAL 150
 
Resident Harbi Şen stated: “Due to the bans and pressure, people have had to leave. Livestock farming is nearly gone. It feels like an open-air prison. Because of the 500-meter border restriction, there's no space left for the village.”
 
LANDMINES POSE A DEADLY THREAT
 
Tekin Akın, the father of Yusuf Tekin, who was severely injured by a landmine explosion, said: “The back of my house is full of mines. My son was injured, and many of our sheep were killed. These mines must be cleared immediately.”
 
CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE AND PRIVACY VIOLATIONS
 
High surveillance towers and cameras set up around the village can even record inside homes. Villagers say being constantly watched creates psychological pressure. Water sources in the village have been cut off by the border wall. Residents face serious problems accessing drinking and irrigation water. Fikri İliş, who says both the highlands and the village have been devastated, stated: “My highland area was destroyed, 300 of my trees were cut down. We have no drinking or irrigation water. Our roads are in terrible condition. The state never built roads, and the ones we had were ruined by construction vehicles.”
 
THEY WANT THE BANS TO BE LIFTED
 
Villagers say they can’t even bring in outside workers for home repairs, and maintenance work is disrupted. Despite applying to the Hakkâri Governor’s Office many times, they haven’t received any response. The villagers emphasize that their only demands are for the bans to be lifted, roads to be paved, and the water problems to be resolved. Villagers stated that they wish a free life. 

View More Articles

11/07/2025
20:17 Davutoglu: What we must do now is leading the new era
20:12 I hope this step will bring good results says Erdogan
20:09 Bese Hozat: We took this step with a clear decision
17:07 Echo of historic ceremony in Amed: Demand constitutional guarantees for those who lay down arms
16:51 CHP Chair Ozel: Process must be managed in Parliament with swift and decisive steps
16:27 Names of participants in historical ceremony of PKK
16:15 We reached end of our work on commission says Parliament Speaker
16:04 Peace Mothers: The state has no more excuses, it must take action
15:32 Nechirvan Barzani: Important and encouraging step
14:36 People watch historical ceremony of PKK with rapt attention
14:13 Footage of historic ceremony of PKK
14:08 Critical threshold has been passed says AKP Spokesperson
14:07 Founding leadership of the PKK kept his promise says Bahceli
13:21 Details of historic ceremony: Legal regulations needed
12:51 KCK Executive Council Co-chair Besê Hozat led historic ceremony
12:44 First images from historic ceremony
12:29 Delegation leaves the site after witnessing historic ceremony
11:58 Peace and Democratic Society Group: We voluntarily destroy our weapons
11:26 Ceremony to be in Şikefta Casenê
11:12 DBP, HDK, and DEM Party arrive at ceremony site
10:58 People awaiting for the “Peace and Democratic Society Group”
10:02 ‘Dream Travelers’ to commemorated with events: Let’s unite on a common ground
10:00 International delegation heads to ceremony site
09:11 Citizens participating in public meetings: The state must take steps
09:10 Ali Bozan: It’s turn of the state to take steps
09:09 Spent 30 years in prison: Ill prisoners should be release for peace
09:09 Tuberculosis patient prisoner subjected handcuffed examination for 3 years
08:07 Delegation on the way to Sulaymaniyah for ceremony
10/07/2025
16:35 He releases from prison after 30 years: We will continue the struggle
16:04 Journalists heading to PKK ceremony: We will witness historic moments
14:35 Call against increasing repression by the Iranian regime
12:33 People set off from Amed for PKK's ceremony
12:22 Censorship of Ajansa Welat by Instagram
12:19 Future of process depends on the government's attitude says Journalist Er
10:42 She lost 2 children during conflicts: Commission must be established, steps must be taken
10:29 Sile Municipality Mayor Kabadayı detained
10:26 Call from Roboskî to mothers of soldiers: If we join hands, peace will come
10:13 KCK: We are determined to take the step Leader Apo has asked of us
09:27 Nature of Şirnex to be plundered with 10 new energy activities
09/07/2025
22:04 Ocalan's video message celebrated in North and East Syria
21:46 Details of the Damascus meeting: 10 March agreement must be fully implemented
21:21 Abdullah Aksu releases from prison after 31 years
21:05 DAANES and transitional government meeting ends
16:38 Mayor Karalar and Deputy Mayor Sahin dismissed
16:19 Roadmap of Ocalan for solution will contribute to shaping future says DBP Co-chair
15:40 DEM Party will be in Sulaymaniyah on 11 July says Aysegul Dogan
15:15 AANES Delegation to meet with transitional government
14:21 After 26 years Amed citizens heard Öcalan: Urgent steps must be taken
13:58 Abdullah Öcalan’s historic call echoes in international media
13:42 Politicians and intellectuals to depart for ceremony in Sulaymaniyah