Turkey: People struggle to buy basic foods during the economic crisis

Translated from Jin News

Although the Minister of Treasury and Finance in Turkey, Berat Albayrak, claims that “the economy in Turkey will get better very soon and this will be felt throughout the country”, people still suffer from high prices in the markets and are unable to afford even basic food items.

Jin News talked to women in the İpekyolu district of Van (Wan). Every Friday, there is a local market in the neighbourhood of Karşıyaka, where women do their weekly shopping.

Women stated that they could not afford much in the market because of the prices. Shopkeepers also complained that they were struggling with sales.

“Life is difficult, but earning a living is even more challenging”

Azize Özkaçmaz said: “Life is difficult, but earning a living is even more challenging”. She could only afford to buy two kilos of okra and one kilo of peppers from the market. She could not buy any more because she can barely pay bills like electricity and water to make ends meet.

Zinnet Cengiz came to the market with only 10 liras (about US 1.3 dollars). Cengiz says that she could not buy anything from the market and does not have any income. She is worried about the coming winter days.

Zeynep Karaca sells corn at the market-place to earn money for her family. She has been to the market for the last four weeks, but was only able to sell around 10 cups of corn a day.

Karaca stated: “It is especially difficult for large families who rent. I earned 30 liras today (around US 4 dollars). When I come here (to the market), it is not an easy job, but I have to do it. Men gave me dirty looks when I first started this job, but we women have to be brave”.

Asya Orhan, another visitor of the Friday markets, could only buy sweets this time. She could not buy fresh vegetables (to dry later), in preparation for the winter months ahead.