As many as 250 civilians remain stuck in a basement and under artillery fire in Silopi district of Şırnak since yesterday without power, water and food.

One of the civilians here, Selahattin Yiğit, said; “It will have no meaning to come to here after a massacre has taken place. An imminent massacre must be hindered right now."

Yiğit said they remain stuck in the basement of a three-storey building in Başak neighborhood, adding that there are currently as many as 250 civilians there, including 10 families, a number of babies, children, elderly, ill and disabled.

"We remained in our houses which were targeted by tank strikes after the beginning of the curfew and attacks. We were later forced to leave our houses to save our lives and children after they being targeted and demolished by artillery fire. We took shelter in a basement. There is no power, no water and no food left. Our children are hugry and thirsty. There are also babies among us as we leave two days behind here. Our area is also being targeted by intense tank strikes, which may result in an imminent massacre."

Describing the onslaught as atrocity, Yiğit said; "Can a new born baby, these children and elderly be terrorists? What a mindset is this? Stop this atrocity as it will be of no use to come to our help after a massacre has been perpetrated. It will mean nothing to come here after the death of 250 people."