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ORSAM
CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STRATEGIC STUDIES
During the bombardments, my animals perished
and my house was destroyed. Above all,
one of my grandchildren was killed. Since I
also lost my income from my livestock, we
were on the hunger threshold as the whole
family. Two of my children are teachers in
central Idlib. They became unable to work as
Idlib was blockaded and bombed by aircrafts.
Many schools were closed and the education
came to a dead stop. Those who still work
continue to receive their salaries. Nevertheless,
when those who migrated are detected,
their salaries are cut as they no longer work.
My children did not leave central Idlib in fear
of their salaries would be cut. So I fled to Turkey
by bringing one of my daughters and my
son in law along with me.
ORSAM: Are you planning to go back to Syria?
Lattuf Bekkar al Nesimi abu Ibrahim: Our
house in Salkin was destroyed by those from
the Regular Army. They took whatever we
had. Houses we left behind to migrate are either
destroyed by the pro Syrian regular army
or those coming from the neighboring districts
settle in those houses. Beautiful houses,
on the other hand, are taken by the members
of Syrian regular army. The efforts, savings
are gone just like that. Even if I want to go
back now, I neither have my house nor my
furnitures. I can only receive my retirement
pension which is my legal right. My children
draw my salary and send to me. I have been
going through financial problems in Turkey
as well. If the conflicts persist, I will have to
leave the house I rent and to move in tent city.
* This interview was made by Feyyat Özyazar
in Reyhanlı district of Hatay, on 5 November
2012.
An Interview with Cemal Abdo who rent
an apartment and settled in Reyhanlı district
of Hatay
The goods and savings of Cemal Abdo
Hashim abu Nureddin, who is engaged in
food trade, were seized. When his employees
were recruited into the army, he could not do
his job anymore.
Cemal Abdo Hashim abu Nureddin: I am
from Kefellesin Village (which is locted close
to the Cilvegözü border zone of Turkey) of
Idlib in Syria. I am 45 years old. I have 4 children.
I am engaged in retailing and wholesaling
food in the customs area. My workplace
is open 24 hours a day. I have 10 employees
except for my children.
ORSAM: Could you tell us about your experiences
in Syria and the reasons why you
came to Turkey?
Cemal Abdo Hashim abu Nureddin: When
the civil war broke out, I was one of the well
known rich people of the district. First of
all, our export routes were blocked. No export
goods entered into our borders. Even if
there was any, it was too expensive. The purchasing
power of the people simultaneously
decreased. As we could not find/sell export
goods, we started to do with domestic goods.
When the routes to Damascus and Aleppo
also came under threat, I started to sell goods
in the storages in Idlib and its neighborhood.
There were conflicts all across the region,
but I couldn’t see it would come to this
point. I thought the events were temporary
and that the Army would bring peace before
long. Nevertheless, one night tanks suddenly
blockaded our area. Thousands of soldiers
entered in villages, towns and customs area.
As we thought the soldiers came to capture
criminals and arms, we did not worry about
it. However, this was not the case. They took
away whatever they found in my storage. My
safe box, my house, everything in the house
etc... As all my employees were young, they
were all recruited into army. As my adult son
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ORSAM
Report No: 157, May 2013