In 1915 and 1916, the Armenian population had decreased from about two and half million to about one million in the Ottoman Empire. The Central Committee of the Young Turk Party was the creator of the Armenian Genocide. It was directed by Teshkilati Mahsusa which is a special organization set up by the Young Turk Party. It consisted of real violent criminals that had been released from prison. They had told the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire that they were going to be relocated, which they then made them walk into the desert into concentration camps. They were denied water, food, and shelter nearly every time they asked. Many died on the way to the camps and in the camps. All of the major Armenian leaders were gathered up on April 24, 1915 and they were all killed.