Rebuild of curfew-hit town set to begin: PM

A "great reconstruction" effort is set to begin for homes and other buildings damaged in clashes between security forces and militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the southeastern district of Silopi, Turkey's prime minister has said.

"A great reconstruction [effort for damaged homes and buildings] will start tomorrow in Silopi," Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu told reporters on March 4, during an unannounced visit to Silopi, a district in southeastern ??rnak province which saw a blanket curfew between Dec. 14, 2015, and Jan. 19.

Underscoring that Turkish authorities had drafted a large-scale reconstruction plan for buildings severely damaged in clashes with PKK militants in Silopi, Davuto?lu said he and several other cabinet ministers, including Interior Minister Efkan Ala, National Education Minister Nabi Avc?, Health Minister Mehmet Müezzino?lu, Family and Social Policies Minister Sema Ramazano?lu and Environment and Urbanization Minister Fatma Güldemet Sar?, who accompanied the Turkish premier on his visit to the southeastern town, would make future visits to other southeastern towns.

In addition to Silopi, Sur, a district in southeastern Diyarbak?r province and Cizre, a district in ??rnak, have seen months-long curfews which subjected local residents to power blackouts, food and water shortages and destroyed neighborhoods. Fierce clashes between PKK militants and security forces have also halted education and health services in the towns placed under curfew.

"All infrastructural needs of Silopi will be met, including those that are defined in the job description of local municipalities," Davuto?lu said, speaking outside the Silopi District Governor's Office after performing his Friday prayer at a...