Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TI034

Incident date

April 15, 2020

Location

مخيم مخمور للاجئين, Makhmur Refugee Camp, Erbil, Iraq

Geolocation

35.760000, 43.605000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three women were killed alleged Turkish drone strikes on Makhmour refugee camp, Erbil province, on April 15th 2020, according to local sources. Four civilians were injured.

Bewar Amin, head of Makhmour Camp’s media department, told Rudaw English that “three civilian women were killed by the Turkish airstrike today near Makhmour camp. Two women were killed immediately by the airstrikes, and another woman succumbed to her grave injuries and passed away later on.”

Yeniozgur Politika reported that Turkish Unmanned Aerial Vehicles targeted the camp, killing three women who were working in the gardens around 1:10 PM. The victims were named as Eyşö Ehmed Ferhan, Ezime Akdoğan and Hawa Akdoğan.

Whereas @abdullahawez wrote that it was unclear whether the women were civilians are not, all other sources reported the victims were civilians. Yeniozgur Politika added that the camp’s residents gathered in front of the hospital and held a ceremony to bury the victims, despite the ongoing dangers of Covid-19.

Kirkuk Now reported that, in addition, four civilians had been injured.

Kurdistan24 wrote that “Turkish warplanes conducted several airstrikes on Tuesday [April 14th] and Wednesday [April 15th] that targeted alleged positions of the opposition Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). According to local media reports, the new campaign resulted in several deaths, including both civilians and PKK fighters, and significant damage to the property of local residents and farmers.”

The incident occured at approximately 1:10 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Adult female killed
Adult female killed
Adult female killed

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Makhmur Refugee Camp (مخيم مخمور للاجئين) for which the generic coordinates are: 35.760000, 43.605000. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Footage of Turkish airstrikes on Erbil province on April 15th, 2020 (via @HanaComani)
  • Photos of Makhmour camp, Erbil province, date unknown (via @y_ozgurpolitika).
  • Funeral ceremony of Eyşö Ehmed Ferhan, Ezime Akdoğan and Hawa Akdoğan, who died in alleged Turkish drone strikes on April 15th 2020 (via Yeniozgur Politika).

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Other

Sources (17) [ collapse]