Villages in northern Iraq revive after years of displacement as PKK-Turkey ceasefire holds

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Villagers in border areas of Duhok province in northern Iraq are returning to their land and restarting agricultural work following a declared ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK, local officials and residents said. In Kaşani, a village in the Batife district within the autonomous administration’s territory, roughly 50 to 60 families have come back after the settlement had been fully abandoned for seven years, according to village mukhtar Haşim Ömer Tahir. He said Kaşani was the first community to see residents return, driven by a security environment that has now held for about two years. Neighboring villages of Nezur, Akma and Seli remain empty because they have not yet received security clearance, local sources said. Returning residents have begun repairing farmland and building homes along the border strip, with preparations underway for summer crop planting and the establishment of walnut and fruit orchards. Villagers have asked the government to provide basic services, including roads, schools, electricity and internet connections, in the resettled areas. No further details on the timeline for service delivery or the status of the empty villages were immediately available.