Damage Degrees of Historical Buildings After the Conflict in Diyarbakır Sur District

Abstract

Diyarbakır, its significant historical heritage, became an important city in terms of cultural history. However, in 2015, the central area of this cultural heritage, the Sur district, suffered destruction. Although restoration efforts are ongoing, there remains a debate on the extent to which the damage has been mitigated. This area, home to religious, civil, and social structures, is designated as an urban conservation site. Preserving this area is crucial for safeguarding architectural diversity and the traces of various civilizations. Over time, the cultural heritage in the region has been affected by various factors until 2015 when clashes exacerbated the damage, resulting in substantial losses. Prior to 2015, an inventory survey was conducted to identify the historical structures in the area, which were damaged or lost during the conflicts. Based on damage assessments conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning in 2019, the buildings were classified as severely damaged, moderately damaged, slightly damaged, undamaged, or lost. According to the survey, out of the 479 buildings examined, restoration was carried out on 204, while 9 were severely damaged, 5 were moderately damaged, 4 were slightly damaged, 254 were undamaged, and 3 were lost. The data obtained from the study indicates that detailed efforts have been made to address the destruction in the region. Restoration activities have positively contributed to the preservation of documentary evidence. However, the best option for preserving similar areas is to cease terrorist activities in Turkey and around the world to maintain the originality of humanity's common heritage.