Residents of Cizre who were forced to leave their homes due to the rising violence in the region are now returning to the town. A Sputnik correspondent took pictures showing Cizre residents returning to their homes.
![Due to bolstered security measures and strict police control, giant traffic jams occurred on the roads leading to Cizre. The curfew will operate from 7:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. until a new warning is issued. Due to bolstered security measures and strict police control, giant traffic jams occurred on the roads leading to Cizre. The curfew will operate from 7:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. until a new warning is issued. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103576/73/1035767304_0:0:1024:678_600x0_80_0_0_527ad5dcb73ad223c342a3a8762823b1.jpg)
Turkey began enforcing a curfew in Kurdish regions of southeastern Turkey last December.
![Many Cizre residents for the first time saw their homes destroyed during the 80-day curfew. Many Cizre residents for the first time saw their homes destroyed during the 80-day curfew. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103576/73/1035767338_0:0:1024:678_600x0_80_0_0_1a87daa70ac04ae1484fd63b78a93156.jpg)
The move has come under harsh criticism from rights groups and led to massive protests within the affected communities.
![A resident of Cizre sits next to his ruined and burned house. A resident of Cizre sits next to his ruined and burned house. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103576/73/1035767373_0:0:1024:678_600x0_80_0_0_15979665b4186d418c1d016a50765e5e.jpg)
"It is known that in Diyarbakir's Sur, the military is conducting an operation. That is, there is now a real war. Similarly, in Cizre, where, according to our estimates, the military has killed more than 200 civilians. The death toll among the civilian population in the area Sur already stands at about 100 people. In addition, about 130 people are injured and waiting to be saved," head of Turkey's Human Rights Association Öztürk Türkdoğan told Sputnik.
![According to media reports, 32 bodies were found in the basement floor of a house destroyed during bombings in the Cudi district. According to media reports, 32 bodies were found in the basement floor of a house destroyed during bombings in the Cudi district. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103576/74/1035767414_0:0:1024:678_600x0_80_0_0_be8e08817e54b2fd3e577d6c7f652744.jpg)
On February 11, Turkey's Interior Minister Efkan Ala said that Turkish security forces had finalized the anti-terrorist operation in Cizre.
![When they returned home Cizre residents found burned bodies inside some houses. When they returned home Cizre residents found burned bodies inside some houses. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103576/74/1035767455_0:0:1024:678_600x0_80_0_0_7c3a764d309e4eb7601e4d07906b38a4.jpg)
In summer 2015, Turkey initiated a military campaign against the PKK militant group in the country's southeastern regions, mostly inhabited by Kurds.
![The world never witnessed atrocities like this. Some burned bodies were dismembered and thrown in the Euphrates, pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Faysal Sariyildiz from the province of Sirnak said. The world never witnessed atrocities like this. Some burned bodies were dismembered and thrown in the Euphrates, pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) lawmaker Faysal Sariyildiz from the province of Sirnak said. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103576/74/1035767488_0:0:1024:678_600x0_80_0_0_47195dcbd7f09cf186c5eb5c1aec6c4f.jpg)
Since the beginning of the campaign, Ankara has imposed several round-the-clock curfews, preventing civilians from fleeing the regions where the military operations are taking place.
![Burned shops Burned shops - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103576/75/1035767521_0:0:1024:678_600x0_80_0_0_139bd4255e8715d91e389a568e0fc346.jpg)
The death toll during special operations in Turkey’s Kurdistan could reach upwards to 5,000 people.
![In some buildings, there is still some property which has not been destroyed. Residents are moving it to other buildings. In some buildings, there is still some property which has not been destroyed. Residents are moving it to other buildings. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103576/75/1035767590_0:0:1024:678_600x0_80_0_0_86e43696e1e408e70c465b4da892b8d7.jpg)
![A ruined building in Cizre. A ruined building in Cizre. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103576/75/1035767557_0:0:1024:678_600x0_80_0_0_cc667661f51036fc57ab048b4efa7f45.jpg)
According to Kurdish politicians, the issue of Turkey’s Kurdistan needs to be brought before the UN Security Council.
![A woman in front of her ruined house: Where do we go now? A woman in front of her ruined house: Where do we go now? - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103576/76/1035767623_0:0:1024:678_600x0_80_0_0_fc63c84cb45976c356abe5cd7d8e5c2c.jpg)
![After 80 days of clashes. After 80 days of clashes. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103576/76/1035767663_0:0:1024:678_600x0_80_0_0_3f35bdfe6e7a23b6f0b6587b7450ff0c.jpg)
The issue of Kurdish nationalism has for a long time been problematic for Turkey, with the country's security forces locked in a 40-year conflict with Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants — a battle which has intensified once again in the past eight months.