Flour factories in Van have stopped their sales after being unable to sell their product due to the financial crisis.

The financial crisis that gets deeper every day continues to negatively affect every area of life. As Turkish President Erdoğan claims the crisis is “over”, it continues to take its toll on the people.

There are seven flour factories in Van with hundreds of workers. The flour factories are an important part of the city’s economy, have been active since 1934 and form the backbone of Van’s agriculture. The flour factories were greatly affected by the earthquake in 2011, and have been trying to recover in recent years with no support from the government. Now, with the most recent financial crisis, the factories are facing the threat of closure.

The factories are having a hard time with the input prices and issues in transportation, and they have decided to stop their sales.

Van Mesopotamia Ecology Association activist Seher Kadiroglu Atas said: “Flour prices have increased too much, they are at 120 Liras now in Van. The financial crisis is only now being reflected on the people. The farmers can’t plant crops any more, because they can’t earn any money when they do. Prices have increased because there is no production. Bakers can’t buy the flour to make their product. They are considering lowering the weight or increasing the price of bread. We are at the point when people can’t buy bread. The flour factories can’t make sales, because bakers can’t buy at these prices. Bread is something everybody buys. It’s not a luxury, but a fundamental need. Some flour factories are waiting for an increase in baseline prices, and others can’t cover their costs.”