Çay neighborhood in Mersin once again witnessed an explosion last night at Ahmet Kaya Park. Two young people at the ages of 18 and 19 were wounded as a result of the explosion which was reportedly caused by a bomb. One of the wounded lost his hand and reported to be in critical situation, while other one’s face fell to bits. The wounded were taken to Mersin State Hospital while the details of the explosion are still not known.

The Kurdish population in Mersin, a Mediterranean city in the South of Turkey which allowed a large number of immigrants from Kurdistan region at the times of intense conflict environment, lives dominantly in Çay, Çilek and Özgürlük neighborhoods which are mostly mentioned with news of clashes between the population and police.

One third of the Mersin population is composed of around 200 thousand Kurds who were all driven into 22 neighborhoods after migrating from their hometowns as a result of village evacuations. Since the conditions in these neighborhoods are as poor as those in southeastern anatolia region, the roles of family members are also different from those in usual daily life of our time; woman work in the fields, men stay home, unemployed, and children work outside. Unemployment, domestic violence and child deaths above the average are among the basic problems in this area.  

These neighborhoods, with a dynamic young population, generally witness events as a result of the government pressure on Kurds and the police practice in this connection. As seen in almost all areas inhabited by Kurdish population, police here is always ready to attack in case of any smallest movement.