A car dealer Necmeddin Zuher Abu Mustafa says to new immigrants that “I would also go and fight, if I were younger”.
Necmeddin Zuher Abu Mustafa: I come from Halluk neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria. I am 63 years old and father of 6 children. I am a taxi driver. I make my living by selling cars that I bring from Germany. Whomever buys a car abroad, they send me to bring it in. I used to bring those cars from Germany to Syria via Turkey in return for a certain amount of money. I do not have another job.
ORSAM: Could you tell us about your life before the civil war in Syria, what you went through during the civil war and the reasons why you came to Turkey?
Necmeddin Zuher Abu Mustafa: When the civil war broke out in Aleppo, car business came to a stop as well. During the bombardment my car was trapped in the wreckage along with my house, and I lost my three children. Nobody could survive in my family except for my married daughter and my two sons who live outside Aleppo. I am in a total misery. As I cannot carry out heavy work due to my age, I sell Salep-Bagels in Hatay-Reyhanlı. Although I earn enough to pay my rent and to lead my life, I have a big problem in terms of health as I have to stand while working during the day. Besides, I might also have to make do with what I earn by selling only bagels from time to time, as I cannot sell salep in hot weather. Salep sales also increased as the weather got cold. Currently I make relatively good money, I earn 20-25 lira on average.
The civil war did not only take our economy away, but also it swallowed our pride. I never thought I would make my living by selling salep, as I used to earn my living by going to Europe and bringing cars to Syria. I feel embarrassed as I have become dependent on those at the age of my children.
I used to have a luxurious house and a decent life in Aleppo. Now I live in a shack in Reyhanlı. Winter is about to come and I am not prepared for winter conditions. I have neither a heating stove, nor carpet or charcoal. My biggest dream is to take a rest next to a heating stove when I come home after working outside all day long, but it does not seem possible in such an environment with such income.
I'm telling those who have recently been migrating from Aleppo: It is getting worse, and the circumstances are getting worse as well. Bombardments continue. I would also go and fight, if I were younger. I would join Jaish al-Hur. Those who join those groups and fight receive 150 dollars in a month. I would prefer this option rather than living here under these circumstances, but my age is an obstacle. I have no choice other than being patient.
* This interview was made by Feyyat Özyazar in Reyhanlı district of Hatay on 6 December 2012.
