Drivers Stranded at Border Due to Coronavirus: We Have Run out of Food, Help us

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"We have been here since Turkmenistan closed its border with Iran (on February 23). 800 people have been using two baths and two toilets for 15 days. Bread is not brought when it rains, we are about to run out of food supplies. We don't have coronavirus. We expect Turkey to intervene so that Turkmenistan border will be opened."

This is how Selahattin Kartal, one of the 800 long-haul truck drivers stranded at Iran-Turkmenistan border, describes their situation. After cases of Covid-19 (a new strain of coronavirus) were diagnosed in Iran on February 19, Turkmenistan closed its border gate with the country four days later on February 23.

That being the case, the drivers of long-haul trucks carrying goods from Turkey to the central asian countries of Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have been stranded at Lüftabad Border Gate between the two countries.

Speaking to bianet, 37-year-old truck driver Selahattin Kartal says that since the day when the border was closed, they have been facing great difficulties.

Though they read news in the media of Turkey that they will be brought back to the country, Kartal says that no action has been taken for that. He wants the authorities to intervene so that the border gate will be opened.

'We have run out of food supplies'

According to Kartal, it will bring them face to face with a bigger danger if they return. Kartal tells us the following about their situation:

"We are almost 800 long-haul truck drivers here. It has been more than two weeks since Turkmenistan closed the gate. We, 800 people, are using two baths and two toilets here. There is only one market and bread is not brought when it rains. We have run out of the food supplies that we took with us from Turkey. Now, we make tea with the water from the toilets and drink it.

"Turkey does not hold the necessary talks for our crossing into Turkmenistan. We are trapped here, we cannot leave the long-haul truck park.

"It is a much greater risk for us if we get back. Because we are 2,000 kilometers away Turkey. It will take us three days to return. We will have to pass Iran's cities where there is coronavirus. We have to have a break to meet our needs. It will increase our possibility of contracting the virus.

"Consulate general didn't help'

"I, myself, called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs twice. The friends here called the Consulate General in Mashhad for several times, but the necessary aid did not come, support has never come.

"After several calls, Consul General Fatih Topçu came here a few days ago. He did not ask about our problems with food and beverages, either. He only said that they were trying to get us back, he just strolled around and left.

'Iran uses us as leverage'

"Iran does not give us information. As far as we can learn from [the authorities in] Turkmenistan, Iran also has around 50 trucks here. Turkmenistan says that it will receive the long-haul trucks of Turkey, to which Iran responds, 'You will either accept my long-haul trucks too or I will not let Turkey's trucks go either.' Iran uses us as leverage.

"We expect the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey to have talks with both Turkmenistan and Iran to ensure that we will be admitted into Turkmenistan. Most long-haul truck drivers here will not stay in Turkmenistan anyway. They will pass through Turkmenistan to go to Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan. And we will return through Russia.

"We have now started to get depressed. We have started to have a row when our families, our children call us. I have asthma. If I run out of my medicine, I will have real difficulties. Our families are concerned about our lives. We want the gates to be opened as soon as possible."

(HA/SD)