‘It was Winter When the Lockdown Began, It is Already Summer Now’

* Photos: bianet

Click to read the article in Turkish

"This scene makes me sad, there should be a mosaic of people on the streets," says one. Another has flowers in his hands, he has bought them for his wife, for the Mother's Day, he tells us. Another one adds, "It was winter when the lockdown began, it is already summer now." Some of them are still angry: "They have locked us up in our homes, is it fair?"

On March 21, 2020, a curfew was imposed for the ones who were aged 65 and over in Turkey as part of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) measures. For the first time after almost two months since then, they have been allowed to go out for four hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today (May 10).

In Kurtuluş neighborhood in Şişli, İstanbul, the ones aged 65 and older have started leaving their homes as of 11 a.m. The streets are full of people taking a walk, shopping at the bakery and having a chat.

Some others have queued up, keeping their social distance, to take the free masks and gloves distributed by Şişli Municipality. Some of the elderly have put chairs in front of their homes, taking a sunbath.

'Sitting around all this time has made me a bit groggy'

80-year-old Nazlı Öztürk is one of those who have queued up for masks. "I had already been at home for three-four months," she says and adds, "We have gone out on the street after four months, but I am so weak in the knees, how am I supposed to walk? Sitting around all this time has made me a bit groggy. Sadness on the one side, problems on the other..."

Another woman adds, "I walk so slowly that I can hardly arrive in Pangaltı. I didn't know I was so sluggish. There are more youngsters than the ones aged over 65. What is the sense of it all?"

Mehmet Mahsun Yıldız was born in 1948. He is happy with the easing of the curfew. "After two months, it is the first time I am on the street," he says and adds, "I bought flowers for my wife; it is Mother's Day, you know."

'They said, 'Go out if you can"'

65-year-old Sarah Bahar is sitting in the shade around the corner. "I have been at home for 60 days," she says and adds, "I am really very happy. I have got some fresh air, it is all sunny out here. It was winter, it was cold when I left. It is already summer now."

Her 70-year-old husband İlyas Bahar can only go to the grocery store near his house: "It made us happy because we would go out for the first time, but we are carrying a chair with us. There is nowhere to sit, everywhere is closed. Yes, they have given us permission, but it should be done by really meaning it. 'Go out if you can, do it if you can,' they said."

78-year-old Selami says, "We are getting sunlight, we are getting vitamin D." He also has his plastic chair with him so that he can sit when he gets tired.

The elderly who work and produce

A 65-year-old woman starts speaking now. "Which complaint of mine should I voice first," she asks and continues as follows:

"They have locked up the ones aged over 65 in their homes, but all of these youngsters are on the street. Excuse me, but, why am I to blame here? Why am I locked up in my home? No one has the authority to restrict my freedom to go out on the street. They have locked up people aged older than 65 in their homes for 60 days. Am I not a fellow human being? Don't I have anything personal? I am a 65-year-old who produces."

67-year-old Meryem Atmaca also says that she has been at home since March 13: "I feel good when I go out on the street. I am not actively working now, but, normally, I am an active person. I do this and that for my grandchildren, I have my daughters, I do my daily shopping, I have my painting lessons. My bones and knees ache now, we have been just locked up. Talking a walk inside the home doesn't suffice."

"Let's get rid of it as soon as possible and go to work. I have always worked till this age. We are now all at home, we are bored," says a 76-year-old.

'Can we go to Erzincan?'

Hüsnü and Gülten Özhan are also in their 70s. The couple has not left their home for 55 days. They are happy that they can finally go out on the street, but they have an important wish: "We want to go to our hometown in Erzincan, but how can we do it?"

A woman is sitting on the stairs of an apartment with her palms facing the sun: "I have not left my home for three months. I am now walking by taking a rest from time to time. We can go out because [President] Tayyip has permitted it, I thank him. Whatever he says..."

74-year-old Ayten Karasoy had a surgery in her hips, she can now walk with a walker: "I already could not leave home for a long time. They said it was crowded, they said 'Don't go out.' But, I have still gone out. I didn't have a mask, either. My neighbor gave me one. I have no one, either, I am alone."

'It must be done every weekend'

Five men are walking and having a chat on the sidewalk. 65-year-old Kemal says, "We have met with our friends from the coffee house. We came across on the way. It is the first time that we have seen each other for two months. In fact, this permission should be given every weekend. And what a lucky coincidence that we have this sunny weather today."

70-year-old Sarah Sezer takes out her keys from her bag, she is preparing to enter her house: "Seeing this scene on the street, I mean, only the ones aged over 65... I feel very bad when I see people like this. It is not pleasant. There needs to be a mosaic of people on the street. We are getting by financially, I hope that the job prospects of our youngsters will improve." (AÖ/SD)