What Remains After Conflicts in Yüksekova: 2 Photographs, 1 Book

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

During the curfew declared on March 13 and lifted temporarily in March 30,. Çiftçi family’s house has been crumbled. Daugthers of Çiftçi family who study in İzmit and Bursa searched in the wreckage of their house to find memories from their past.

According to the report of Erkan Çapraz and Ömer Oğuz from Yüksekova News, Melek and Handan Çiftçi who have come to the wreckage of their house to find memories from their mother Devlet Çiftçi and their sister Canan Çiftçi both drown in water 9 years ago have found nothing but 2 photographs which belonged to distant relatives and a book which belongs to their sister who has passed away. They said that they really feel sad about it.

“They took away my childhood”

Handan Çiftçi who states that she studies in university in İzmit says:

“During the curfew I was in İzmit to continue my education. I came to Yüksekova a week ago but I could only have the courage to see the wreckage of my house just now.

“We found two photographs which belong to my my father’s relatives.

“We lost our mother and sister nine years ago. There were some memories which belonged to them. We came here to find those memories but we have found nothing except a book. Therefore my pain got bigger even more.

“What upsets me the most is that there is nothing left from our mother and sister. One could overcome material losses somehow but spirituality has gone, there is nothing left.

“I have lived here since I was in 2nd grade. My school, my prep school, there is nothing left. I used to play here, now there is no sign left of it. We have lost everything, they destroyed it. They literally took my childhood away.

“There was no need for that much”

Melek Çifçi who studies in university in Bursa, also said:

“We are looking for memories that could have remained in the wreckage. I found a book which belongs to my sister. It is kind of a relief for us.

“When we first came to the neighbourhood I saw my school that had been burned. It’s so sad. There was no need for that much. I couldn’t find anything that belongs to me. (EKN/UA)