LÎNA EL-XETÎB

Idlib - Women living in Idlib’s IDPs camps try to earn a living by growing vegetables against rising prices and the high cost of living. NuJINHA spoke to several of these women.

“We cannot buy vegetables due to their high prices”

29-year-old Semîra El-Melhan is one of the women growing vegetables around the camp. “Since the beginning of summer, I have planted tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, parsley and other vegetables. We decided to grow vegetables around the camp because we have been experiencing economic problems due to the high cost of living since we were forcibly displaced. Sometimes, we did not have money to buy even bread. For this reason, we thought growing vegetables would be an alternative to price hikes. Now, a kilo of tomatoes is five Turkish liras and it is 1250 Syrian pounds while a kilo of cucumbers is four Turkish liras and it is 1000 Syrian pounds.

“There is solidarity among women”

33-year-old Ayîşa El-Onî has planted vegetables around her tent due to the rising vegetable prices. “I also planted flowers. Before being displaced, I was engaged in agriculture. I had a field and grew vegetables. I sold vegetables to earn a living. Now, I grow vegetables around my tent due to the high cost of living. There is solidarity among women living in the camp. We give vegetables to everyone in need.”

“Nature gives us peace”

 60-year-old Rîma El-Caferî does not prefer to buy vegetables from greengrocers. She thinks the vegetables grown by her are more delicious because they do not contain any chemicals. “I have grown vegetables all my life. In these arid and colorless camps, green relaxes my soul. I always sit here. Nature makes us feel better and gives us peace.”