BERJÎN KARA

Makhmur-  The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP or PDK) has imposed an embargo on the Makhmur refugee camp since 2019. Cooperating with the Turkish state, the PDK has used all kinds of methods to attack the camp. It has controlled the entrance and exit of the camp. For this reason, the people living in the camp cannot access their right to education and health. The children living in the camp have been deprived of their right to education due to the embargo imposed on the camp for three years. In the camp, the people cannot meet even their basic needs due to the ongoing embargo.

She earns a living from animal husbandry

Despite all the challenges, the women living in the camp keep working to earn a living. Jiyan Tok has earned a living from animal husbandry with her spouse’s mother Qumri Tok for three years.

‘Children are deprived of their right to education’

“The embargo has been imposed on us since 2019,” Jiyan Tok said, “We have nothing but a siege. Every day, the warplanes try to target us and our children in order to spread fear among us. Children are badly affected by the sound of warplanes. Our children cannot go to school because the roads are blocked. The children are deprived of their right to education.”

They face difficulties because the roads are blocked

Jiyan Tok is engaged in animal husbandry and agriculture for her children. “Animal breeding is a very difficult job but I have to work for my children. I milk the goats; I make cheese and yogurt from their milk. We earn a living by selling these products. The price of corn and wheat is very high. We collect hay to feed our animals. Before, we could sell milk, cheese and yogurt outside of the camp but now the roads are blocked so they cannot sell our products outside of the camp. I have very few animals; I can make cheese and yogurt for only my children.”

‘My animals are like my children’

Underlining that her animals are like her children, Jiyan Tok said, “I bought goats three years ago. I love my goats; I cannot live without them. Every day, I wake up at 6 am to feed them. They have babies so I take care of them. My goats are like my children.”