'Cheap meat' queue in the early hours: 'The only things pensioners are missing are a coffin and a grave'

In the Ipekyolu district of Van, citizens begin lining up as early as 5 a.m. in front of the Meat and Milk Board (ESK) located on Alipaşa Street to buy affordable meat. Citizens waiting in the cold despite the store opening at 9 a.m. stated that it is impossible for them to buy meat from grocery stores due to the rising cost of living. 

"WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT WILL BE OUR TURN"

One citizen said, "We have been in line since 6 a.m. We don't even know if it will be our turn; sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. You look and it's gone, they might even tell us to go home." A retired citizen remarked, "We are pensioners; we are not worried about the minimum wage, but about the plight of pensioners. The only things we pensioners are missing are a coffin and a grave." 

Another citizen stated, "We have been in line since 7 a.m., some of our friends have been here since the morning prayer. We don't even know if they will be selling ground meat or regular meat today. I have nothing left; the economy in this country will never improve, it will only get worse."

"WE CANNOT MAKE ENDS MEET, HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO?"

A citizen who stated that they had been waiting in line for 2 hours for cheap meat said, "We have been here for two hours. I came after praying. Even so, there are 20 people in front of me. Some have been here since 5:30. I am not happy with this situation; the Meat and Milk Board, which should open at 8, opens at 9. We cannot make ends meet, how are we supposed to? Everything is very expensive. We prayed and got in line, and now we are waiting."

News Source: 12punto