Citizens in Amed say they cannot make a living anymore due to the increasingly high prices of food and bills. Some cannot pay their rent, some are thinking about how to enroll their children in school, and some haven’t taken any fruit to their house for two years. We spoke to female shopkeepers and consumers, who say the economic crisis keeps them awake at night.

MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Amed- In Turkey, everybody is suffering from ongoing price hikes. Due to rising prices, people cannot meet their needs anymore. We spoke to female shopkeepers and consumers in Amed about how they make ends meet.

“Shopkeepers cannot pay their rent anymore”

Rabia Karayıl runs a bookstore called “Lilav Bookstore” in Amed. She complains about the price hikes. “We have difficulty paying even our rent. Many female shopkeepers like me suffer from the same problems,” she said, “We have difficulties in paying the rent, the expenses of the employees, and the bills. Sometimes, we are unable to pay our rent. The government doesn’t support us during the pandemic. We faced many problems and we still face them. I talk to other female shopkeepers and all are suffering from the same problems. There is nothing to do in this process. We try to resist as much as we can but we don’t know how long we can resist.”

“Financial worries keep me awake at night”

Tuba Koyuncu, a housewife, complains about how making a living is difficult with only her husband’s salary. She told us she couldn’t sleep at night due to financial worries. “Only my husband works and his salary is enough just for house rent and bills. We expect support from the state but the state only supports Syrians. Every night, I think of what I should cook for the next day. We make a living by borrowing money from our relatives or friends. The prices of vegetables and fruits are increasing every day. The prices should be decreased and price hikes should be stopped.”

“Economic crisis blocks us to hire unemployed people”

Nazan Harmen has a beauty salon. She told us that she has the most difficult years in her 22-year career. “We cannot make a living due to the hikes in electricity, water, and rent prices. All shopkeepers complain about the price hikes. We are suffering from these prices and something must be done to stop the price hikes. I need to employ someone but I cannot. The ongoing economic crisis blocks us to hire unemployed people.”

“I cannot take fruits for two years”

Elif İnci Yıldız sells products at district markets. She also complains about the price hikes, “We cannot sell our products due to their high prices. Our income decreases compared to previous years while our expenses are increasing. Tomorrow, I will enroll my daughter at university but I don’t know how I will do it. We cannot send our children to school anymore. I sell vegetables and fruits at the markets but I cannot take some fruits to my house for two years due to their high prices.”