By Muaz al-Muhammad
DERIK (AL-MALIKIYAH), Syria (North Press) – Muhammad Haji Hamid, a resident of a village in the far northeast Syria on the Turkish border cannot reach his 80-dunum agricultural land due to frequent Turkish bombardment.
Haji Hamid, from the village of Gerdemiye in the north of the city of Derik (al-Malikiyah), told North Press that reaching the lands near the border with Turkey have almost become impossible and can be seen as a restricted zone, noting that some lands have been divided by the border wall that was built by the Turkish state.
Farmers in the border villages extending from the city of Qamishli to Derik face difficulties in reaching their agricultural lands and working in it.
They are at risk of being targeted by Turkey, the matter could worsen their economic conditions, especially since these lands have been their source of income.
Farmers in villages of Gerdemiye, Haji Materi, Hable Hawa, Qers Deeb, and Ain Diwar in the northern countryside of Derik suffer annual losses estimated at millions of Syrian pounds because they cannot go and work in their lands for fear of being targeted by the Turkish army.
Turkey usually bombs villages on the border strip with Syria, causing casualties among civilians.
“Farmers’ reluctance to plow and cultivate their lands increases their economic hardship and causes them losses,” Haji Hamid said.
Munir Jamil Abdal, official at Agriculture and Irrigation Office of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in the town of Girke Lege (Maabadeh), said farmers face numerous challenges during the current agricultural season.
“Villages near the Turkish border encounter risks of Turkish attacks and bombardment regarding plowing the lands and harvesting them, along with annual fires that set by the Turkish border guards,” Abdal added.
The official highlighted Turkey’s contribution to the spread of the sunn pest, causing significant damage to crops in areas close to the border.
“We do not have much potential for combating this pest and solving this problem as required,” Abdal noted.
He emphasized that the agricultural lands in the border villages of Derik countryside are in a very challenging situation.
Despite the peaceful nature of the residents, Turkey continues to spread fear and concern among civilians, keeping 30 percent of the total area in these villages at risk and without cultivation.