A designated area of 53 thousand square meters in Kaynartepe Neighbourhood of Bağlar district in Diyarbakır(Amed) has been declared a ‘danger zone’ with a new law dated September 25, 2020.
The neighbourhood has now been included into projects of urban transformation.
People who live there are worried about losing their homes and being forced to migrate to another region. Most of the people living in this area migrated to the district after their villages were burned down in the Pasur district of Diyarbakir region in 1991.
“We do not want to leave our homes again” they say and support transformation that develops the neighbourhood with them remaining as residents in the locality as opposed to gentrification urban redevelopment projects which will displace them.
Selma Aslan, Co-chair of the Chamber of Architects Diyarbakır Branch, also pointed out that the project should be put on hold until assurances are given to the local residents.
“People who live there should not suffer because of this transformation, and historical structures of the area should also be protected ” she said.
