Yaser's Diary: Ingenuity amid Struggle

 In Yaser's Diary, Syria Relief and Development's Turkey Country Director, Yaser Alsaghrji, reports on his journeys into Syria to help those in need. 

Every Wednesday morning, merchants and farmers across Reyhanli, Turkey, and nearby towns and villages--even as far as Kirikhan, 24 miles away--gather in our street for the weekly farmer's market. As early as 6 am the tents start to come up and stands are prepared for the event: fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, honey, and even clothing and shoes can be found among hundreds of items being sold here every week. By 7 am the usually quiet side street comes to life.

Every week I navigate the market, curious about all the spices and fresh produce that would never be seen in larger cities such as Damascus or Washington DC, my current home. Many people here at the market know me by now and kindly show me whatever they think might be unknown to me. Today however, it was thanks to Syria Relief and Development that I learned something about my favorite breakfast food, olives...and, about human will.

A man in his late fifties in a brown-striped galabieh (robe) seemed to have recognized me. He came out from behind his stockpile of olives and shook hands with me.  He introduced himself as Abu Waleed and his daughter--in her mid-twenties and also working the olive stand--as Umm Samer. Meanwhile, another man approached Abu Waleed and inquired about the olives.
Abu Waleed and the man discussed how expensive olives were this season--that they were, in fact, more expensive per kilogram than olive oil. "I’ve never heard of olives being more expensive than olive oil," said Abu Waleed. "It’s partially due to the fact that Syrian olives were not picked this year. It wasn't safe, and transportation was too expensive."
Abu Waleed and the man discussed how expensive olives were this season--that they were, in fact, more expensive per kilogram than olive oil. "I’ve never heard of olives being more expensive than olive oil," said Abu Waleed. "It’s partially due to the fact that Syrian olives were not picked this year. It wasn't safe, and transportation was too expensive."

Abu Waleed told him that these were Salqini olives from Salqin, Syria--an area just across the border from Reyhanli that is famous for its good olives. Abu Waleed explained that these were not watery olives that rotted quickly, which the patron confirmed by pressing one olive between two fingers and examining the oozing oil. The man purchased the entire pile of olives.

When the sale was completed, I saw Abu Waleed kiss the money the patron had given him and put it in his pocket while saying Alhamdulillah (all praise is to God). He came back to me and greeted me warmly, happily. He told me that although earlier he had sold another batch of olives for a better price, he was happy to let the whole pile go.

Suddenly Abu Waleed asked me if I recognized him. I was embarrassed to admit that I didn't. He reminded me that we met in Kafer Takhareem, an area in Idlib, Syria, where Syria Relief and Development's aid workers and I gave his family and his daughter's family winter kits. His daughter’s husband was killed and she was left with two young children to raise on her own. Abu Waleed and his daughter had traded the winter boots and sheets inside the kit for a trip to the border near Harem, about 15 miles from Reyhanli. They crossed the border carrying 110 kilograms of olives and were able to get a ride into Reyhanli.

They found the local farmer's market and set up shop. “This is the first money we’ve made in a very long time," Abu Waleed said. Umm Samer, his daughter, had suggested purchasing items in Turkey to sell back home in Syria to continue generating income. But Abu Waleed had replied, "people have no money to buy Turkish products like in the old days," so they decided to buy insulin for their neighbor back home who has diabetes as a way of shukr (giving thanks).

I was struck again by the will of the Syrian people, and their ingenuity: transforming items from a distribution kit into an income-generating olive sale. The money from that sale will keep two families surviving for a little while longer.