Villagers in Iraqi Kurdistan try to continue with their lives amidst the military offensives and attacks that are launched by the Turkish state.
Most villagers in Iraq welcome the arrival of spring, especially after a harsh winter, which has made it harder for them to tend their animals. However, the challenges of the cold weather have been exacerbated by the challenges that they have had to face because of numerous Turkish attacks in the region.
The livelihoods of the villagers living in the Beres village in the Binere Qandil region depend on farming and agricultural production. There are currently ten houses in the village, which is 30km away from the city centre. Living in this environment, surrounded by nature, the villagers live harmoniously with nature.
HelimĂȘ Ebdullah, a villager, stressed that the military attacks have disturbed the lives of the villagers in Beres. “Turkish war planes always fly above us and constantly bomb the region. This is the only thing that disturbs our peace here. We worry, waiting for our shepherds to return home due to the fear that they might be targeted by an air strike”, she said.
Esmer Osman, another villager woman, shared her comments whilst she was cooking. She stated that the two water sources of the village came to the point of running empty as nature has been severely affected by the ongoing circumstances of war.