Thousands of teachers working in Turkey's southeastern provinces of Cizre and Silopi have started fleeing to their hometowns, less than 24 hours before the announcement of indeterminate curfews in the two towns. Teachers from different parts of the country, who have been working in Şırnak province's Cizre and Silopi districts, started leaving the area on Dec. 13 after receiving a text message from the Education Ministry, Doğan News Agency reported. The text message was reportedly sent around noon on Dec. 13 and requested that teachers working in Cizre and Silopi attend "in-service training that can be completed in their hometowns." The teachers' exodus has sparked fears of fresh clashes in the towns, as Turkey's east and southeast have seen intense clashes in recent months following military curfews imposed during clashes between the security forces and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The Şırnak Governor's Office announced that the indeterminate curfews will take effect in Cizre and Silopi at 11 p.m. on Dec. 14.
