Mahide Hadji Hassan, whose husband was martyred as a result of the bombardment in civil war, came to Turkey after fighting to survive with her 2 sons and a daughter in Aleppo for months.
ORSAM: Could you introduce yourself in brief?
Mahide Hadji Hassan: I come from Bistenelpasha Neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria. I am a mother of 3 children.
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?
Mahide Hadji Hassan: My husband's office was in the basement of our apartment. During the bombardment, the barrel fell on our building, and my husband was killed. Many of my neighbors were also killed during the bombardment. Furniture both in our apartment and office were all destroyed, we hardly saved our lives. I came to Turkey by bringing my children along with me after I stayed in neighbors and some relatives for a couple of days. If my adult sons had fallen into the hands of the Regular Army, they would have been forced to join the army or they would have been killed. Therefore, I took them away with me, and we came here.
We rent an apartment in Reyhanlı. Sometimes I go to houses for cleaning, and sometimes I work as an agricultural worker. My both sons work in constructions. We have been striving to earn our own living. Most of our neighborhood were destroyed, and a large number of people were killed. We lived in an environment where there was no bread, electricity and water was cut, and where nobody could go outside. We lived in fear as if our country had been invaded by foreign troops.
We had all kind of furniture and household goods at home in Syria. We led a comfortable and a regular life. Here, we have a simple rug, a couple of domestic utensils and a refrigerator. I could not buy a television yet. We sleep on sponge mattresses. We live in an apartment with a living room, a guest room and a kitchen.
People who were sent by some businessmen abroad came to Reyhanlı, and they delivered some materials to help Syrian families in need. I received two packages of food product and 3 blankets. It is winter already, and we have neither heating stove nor charcoal. I save money to buy those.
I hear nothing from my neighbors and my relatives in Syria. I believe most of them migrated like us, but I do not know where they are. We cannot hear from each other through telephone either. I will stay in Turkey until things settle down in Syria.
* This interview was made by Feyyat Özyazar in Reyhanlı district of Hatay on 6 December 2012.
