We wash the laundry by hand, we do not switch on the lights

Serpil BERK
Orhan KURUL
Dersim

Citizens are in an inextricable economic crisis in the face of the price hikes on electricity and fuels. Citizens, whom we asked about how the hikes affected their lives, stated that they had difficulties in paying their bills and that they were looking for solutions to save money.

The only subject of the daily conversation citizens are having is that they want the price hikes to be withdrawn. Citizens who wash their laundry by hand, sit only in the light of the television and cannot turn on the heating are trying to cope with the price hikes in their own way.

However, citizens say that they are aware of the fact that these so-called solutions do not work and are demanding that the price hikes be withdrawn. They also blame a lack of authorities to address the issue.

"WE ARE MISERABLE"

Fatma Kılıç (56) explained that her gas bill was high despite the fact that only two radiators were being used in her home.

She said: “We have difficulty in making payments, the electricity bill is also high even though we do not use much.

“We turn on the refrigerator, washing machine and vacuum cleaner one day but not the next. We are all miserable - they must reverse the price hikes.”

“WE ARE IN THIS SITUATION DUE TO A LACK OF AUTHORITIES”

Gülseven Yıldız (58), who we talked to while she worked at her small business rolling out dough, mentioned that she paid 3,000 Turkish Liras (TL) in rent for her shop and could not pay the rest of her bills.

She said: "The price of carrier bags I use when selling dough was between 10 and 25 TL last month. Now it is 60 TL. Gas canisters for cooking now cost 260 TL. If it was just a matter of electricity it would be one thing, but look at the rise in costs for carrier bags.”

Yıldız showed us the unused electric heater mounted on the wall, saying: "We don't use it out of fear, look how many layers we're dressed in,” as she showed us the layers of socks she wore to keep warm.

She said that the situation for shopkeepers is bad, adding: “Our situation as women is more difficult because the work continues even when we go home.

“Others say, 'We are waiting for a remedy from the authorities.' I'm not saying that though because we are in this situation due to a lack of decent authorities. If this regime is abolished, maybe then people will be better off.”

"WE ARE STUCK IN EVERY ASPECT"

Derviş Demir (62) also said that they are unable to pay their bills and added: "We are retired, so clearly we only have a small income. The cost of living is very difficult. We are stuck in every aspect, not just the bills.”

Saying that he recently received an electricity bill of 436 TL, Demir said: “We do not run the washing machine as much as we can. To tell the truth, my wife sometimes washes it by hand.

“The working class and pensioners are already the most oppressed. No one is thinking about us. We want the hikes to be withdrawn, but they don't think about the people."

"WE MAKE DO WITH THE LIGHT FROM THE TELEVISION"

Saying that the bills in his household have doubled, Haydar Aydın (60) said, "We make do with the light from the TV, we do not turn on the lights so that the electricity bill is lower.

“The winter is already difficult, the people are in complete trouble because of the price hikes. Everyone wants the price hikes to be taken back so that citizens can take a breather.”

"TWO THOUSAND TL LAST MONTH, FIVE THOUSAND TL THIS MONTH”

A tradesman who received an electricity bill of 2,100 TL for his shop last month saw his bill reach 5,270 TL this month.

He said, “In the current financial situation, it is very difficult to make payments. We don't know what to do, it's very difficult.

“The hikes should be withdrawn. Alongside our workplaces, we also have high bills for our homes. And our homes also have other expenses. We don't know which one to try to cover first.”