In the cities of Van and Hakkari, where unemployment and poverty are very high, an increase in transport fees leaves citizen in a very difficult situation.

In the provinces where there is no production, agriculture and animal husbandry also came to an end. Hundreds of tradesmen were forced to closed shutters because of the coronavirus epidemic, and thousands of people were left unemployed.

Due to unemployment, many people had to return to their villages from Van and Hakkari city centres. Citizens who had to return to Hakkari had a sour surprise when they found out that there has been a 100 percent hike in transport fees from Van to Hakkari.

A citizen named Azat Aslan said that the Van-Hakkari fee was 40 liras two months ago, and it has increased to 80 liras. This means that the return journey will cost a person 160 liras, something “unacceptable – said Aslan - for 200-kilometer road. People should be able to go to their place and not struggling to go back home. The increase should be cancelled because it penalises citizens.”

Another citizen, who did not want to be named, said: "I will go to Hakkari with my wife but I simply cannot afford the journey costs. It will cost us 320 Turkish Liras and it is just not possible."