“We hope that the current regime topples as soon as possible,” says Naci Hassun El Kasravi who is a farmer.
Naci Hassun Al Kasravi: I am from Kille Village of Idlib Province in Syria. I am 55 years old. I am a father of 6 children. I have been engaged in farming for years. I have a tractor, pick-up truck, and all kind of land vehicle. When people started to migrate, I took over their lands. They told me to plant their lands and they would accept no matter what I give as a profit during the harvest season. My two adult sons and I ploughed lands and started to plant grains. However, helicopters hovered over us and they opened harassing fire on us. Our own army prevented us from farming in our own country, and also they prevented us from ploughing uncultivated lands, and producing food. Fear on the one hand, and the lack of oil to run vehicles on the other hand. We could not plant the lands.
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?
Naci Hassun Al Kasravi: My children were scared. We baked bread on a wood fire, and generated electricity through generator. When oil and fuel was on black market, we had to come to Turkey by bringing only our personal belongings with us. We are farmers. There is no job we can do here. Some landowners employed us for a couple of days. However, the daily wage was not enough to fulfill our needs. As 13 people; my children, my daughters-in-law, my grandchildren and I live in a 4-room apartment. The new year has arrived but we could not set up a stove yet. There is no carpet, rug on the floor. We furnished the apartment with thin and old blankets. Even though we light electric stove from time to time, we cannot always use it as electricity is expensive in Turkey. We work as a laborer in various jobs. We started to make second-hand sales. However, we cannot make much profit as there are many people do it. Sometimes my children and I cross the border and go to Syria. We bring our stuff from home. We take things that we need from the vacant houses. When there is a crowd in the morning, bombardment starts immediately. We can only cross the border during the night in dark. We do not have enough food, nor any winter clothes. We hope that the current regime topples as soon as possible. Otherwise we will die of starvation and misery like all other poor and homeless Syrians.
* This interview was made by Feyyat Özyazar in Reyhanlı district of Hatay, on 27 December 2012.
