JINHA

WAN - Children have been exposed to a range of traumatic experiences by genocidal attacks carried out in Cizre. They couldn't go out from their homes for months. They feel free on Andiçen highlands now.

Cizre children have lived on their own lands as koçer (people who live on highlands in summer) like their fathers and mothers. The children turned their faces to highlands in the Andiçen village of Van's Çatak district in summer every year with their parents. This year, they came to the highlands after martial law lasted 79 days in Cizre. They couldn't go out from their homes for months in Cizre. They, who faced death every moment, have begun to tell the trauma they experienced on highlands.
One of these children is Hediye Ecer, she said, "We couldn't play in the streets freely, we weren't safe. Now, we can play on highlands freely until night. We are the children of mountains and highlands."

Seven-year-old Suleyman Hezar who help his family and play on the highland, said that: "We are coming to highlands in the summer. I can breathe on highlands with my friends. I am so happy with my friends on highlands. We play the games and also help our family."
Süleyman told us that they couldn't go out from their house due to siege in Cizre. He said, "So I wanted to come here as soon as possible. I only feel free here. That is why we love mountains. Children should come to highlands to have a free life like us."

(hk-db/zt/ra/gd)