Humans of West - Humans of Kurdistan

“I have been working in this coffee shop since childhood. I inherited it from my father. He built the shop around 70 years ago out of mud and wood. This coffee shop has become an essential part of the life of Amuda families, thinkers, doctors, and farmers, they gather here, and the place is now a historical one. I will not modernize or renovate the coffee shop because it has my father’s scent and is part of history; moreover, this is how the customers enjoy it. I can’t separate from the coffee shop because it has become part of me and my identity. I will leave it for my children after my death.” ...

May 24 2023

April 10, 2023

“Once we reached Washokani Camp in Al-Hasakeh, I decided not to depend on anyone but myself and find my own job. Now, we sell food and kebab with my son and daughter. At first, people were making fun of me, but once they saw it was successful, and I could make my living off it, other women in the camp started working too. I ask all women to work and make their own living.” ...

May 24 2023

May 9, 2023

“I am Ahmed Ibrahim 38 years old, from the city of Ras al-Ain, but I immigrated due to the attack of the Turkish occupation in 2019. I now live in Washokani Camp. I have been working in motorcycle repair since I was little. My work in the camp was good, but a few months ago, a motorcycle exploded in the camp, and because of that, it was decided that motorcycles would no longer be allowed there. This decision was good because it prevented other explosions but it was not good for me. I had no choice but to work as a blacksmith to care for my child.” ...

May 24 2023

February 26, 2023

“After the Turkish state conquered our city in 2019, I was displaced to Ras al-Ayn. I was too sick to escape when the Turks advanced in our area. One day, my 25-year-old son went out to buy me medicines but never returned. Later we got the news that he was imprisoned in one of the Turkish prisons in Batman. From that point, my life has been flipped upside down. Even though I am sick, I work as a seamstress to send him some money. My only hope in life is to see him one more time.” ...

Mar 02 2023

February 8, 2023

"I’m 72 years old, and from Amuda, I also live there. When I was a child, I didn’t have the chance to attend school and learn how to read and write. When I turned 50, my husband taught me how to read and write in Kurdish. I tried hard until I finally learned. In 2014 I went to the USA; my son lived there. My son and his wife were leaving for work, and I was left alone at home all the time. So, I decided to start reading books. Years later, I took the first step in writing my own book titled Biranina Jineke Kurd. I talked about the story of my life from childhood as a Kurdish woman from Amuda, Western Kurdistan. In 2022, I returned to Amuda and had it printed. I have dreamed of learning how to read and write since childhood. Here I am now; finally, I achieved this dream, I wrote a book, and I’m in the middle of writing another one." ...

Mar 02 2023

January 18, 2023

“I live in Til Ziwan village in Qamishli. I have been farming since childhood; I’m 65 years old now and still farming. This is inherited from our ancestors, and we will not abandon it. Because of the scarcity of rainwater in the last two years and climate change, we have a decline in production. If the situation stays like this, it will be very threatening, especially in our area, as it is one of the most important areas in Rojava and Syria regarding crop production. We will plant wheat again this new year; even if the rainfall decreases, we will count on irrigation. Although this will considerably increase the cost, this is the only solution we have.” ...

Jan 15 2023

January 4, 2023

“My name is Hussein Abida, and I’m 50 years old. I live in Tall Tamr in the area of conflict between the Kurdish forces, the Turkish army, and its Islamic proxies. Even though our village is semi-continuously facing bombardment from Turkish forces, my family and I have not left our home and will not leave. Leaving your village and home is difficult; I can stay in the village and bear the bombardment, but I won’t go to the camps and live in a tent. The bomb fragments are on the roads of the village all the time. I pray every day for god to bring peace and security to Rojava and Syria and for the war to end.” ...

Dec 13 2022

December 13, 2023

“I’m 12 years old and from Serê Kaniyê. We abandoned our home, fearing Turkish bombardments, and became IDPs in Al Hasakah. Now, we live in a small house on the farm, which my father toils in. I dropped out of school to help my dad. On the holidays, I help him irrigate the farm, and I work as an automobile mechanic for the rest of the days. My hands are always dirty because of oil, as I work simultaneously as a mechanic and a farmer. I love school, but since living conditions are difficult, my father can’t provide for all our needs alone. I have to work too.” ...

Nov 20 2022

November 20, 2022

“My name is Hadda Dawd, and I’m in my 80s and from Sarekani. During the attacks of the Islamic forces and Turkish army in 2019 on Sarekani, we left the area to save ourselves. However, my son was martyred while defending the city. The news was so heart-wrenching, and I was a refugee at the same time. I didn’t know to worry about what. Since becoming refugees, we have been relocated to the Washokani Camp in Al Hasakah, and we are still waiting for the news of our return. Our sorrow has exceeded all boundaries; being away from our homeland is difficult. Three years after being in the camp as a refugee, I started building a room out of mud to protect us from the coldness of winter, which would reach us soon.” Hasakah | @vimfoundationkrd ...

Nov 02 2022

November 2, 2022

“I’m 50 years old and live in a village in Al Hasakah. Those who live in villages must depend on agriculture and animal husbandry. My two children and I depend on the agriculture of tomatoes, cucumber, and zucchini in the summer, and we sell the surplus and benefit from it. We also plant broom corn, use them to clean the house and animal barn, and sell the remaining ones. We do this so we won’t need plastic brooms, which don’t last long and cannot be used in cleaning the barn. Village life is difficult, but it is also meaningful. Everything you eat is unique to you. You plant it and also sow it. This has made me genuinely attached to the village lifestyle.” ...

Oct 19 2022

October19 , 2022