MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Dersim- The increase in the inflation rate in Türkiye causes the high cost of living affecting everyone. Purchasing power has greatly fallen due to the high cost of living. People struggle to put food on the table while forgetting what luxury is.

In Dersim, where people suffer from the high cost of living, citizens earn a living from animal husbandry, beekeeping and selling products. The women artisans in the city struggle not to take down the shutters due to the economic crisis.

‘I cannot buy meat for my child even once a week’

  

Nadide Yallı sells jewelry and clothes in the center of Dersim to earn a living for her family. “I am a family counselor but I have sold jewelry and clothes here because I could not find a job. This economic crisis affects women the most because women shoulder the burden in all spheres of life. Food prices have nearly tripled, compared to last year. Last year, I paid 4,000 Turkish lira for the rent but now I pay 10,000 Turkish lira. I do not want to talk about the price of clothes and housing because it is very expensive. I used to go home and rest but I cannot do it anymore because I have to work more to earn a living for my family. I have to work more to put food on the table. I do not know how long we can endure this high cost of living. I have a 7-year-old daughter and I cannot buy meat for her even once a week.”

‘I buy products with debt’

  

Zübeyde Delekçi is also an artisan in Dersim, selling clothes. “We cannot sell clothes anymore because customers say that the clothes are very expensive. The people living in other cities also suffer from the high cost of living. I buy products with debt and pay it back by borrowing money. We work for 14 hours every day but we cannot make ends meet.”

‘We struggle to survive’

  

Sevim Sağlam also complains about the high cost of living. “I clean stairs to earn a living. The money I earn is insufficient to pay my bills. We struggle to survive. My son is 30 years old but he sits at home. Why? Because he is unemployed and cannot find a job.”

‘I go to sleep thinking about the cost of living’

   

“People are condemned to starvation in this country,” said Diren Koç. “I go to sleep thinking about the cost of living. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I am the mother of three and always thinking of earning a living for them. People in all cities suffer from the high cost of living. As a mother and a woman, I struggle to survive but I am exhausted. I have to think of tomorrow. Many artisans have already taken down the shutters due to the economic crisis. I also thought about taking down the shutters but I could not because I have to work for my children.”