Left Germany to return to his village: Now living in a container
After living in Germany for 49 years, a 73-year-old expatriate who missed his hometown of Kahramanmaraş left Germany following the major earthquake in Kahramanmaraş and began living in a container in his hometown. Having returned to the homeland he longed for for years, the expatriate is building his own living space in the earthquake zone.
İHA
Half a century ago, one of those who set off for Germany with their wooden suitcases was 73-year-old Oruç Yağbasan, who lived in the Dulkadiroğlu district of Kahramanmaraş. Leaving his village in 1975 at the age of 24 with a glimmer of hope, Yağbasan took his wife with him and lived in Germany for 49 years as both a German and Turkish citizen.
'WE WANT TO MOVE INTO OUR HOMES'
The expatriate, who is trying to forget the pain of the earthquake with memories of the past in the Doğanlıkarahasan neighborhood, which he calls 'my homeland, my soil,' is trying to hold onto life in a container, however difficult it may be. Stating that his children and family are still in Germany, Yağbasan settled in his village after the February 6 earthquakes.
Spending his days with the flowers he planted in front of his container and in a coffee house made from a shack, Yağbasan said, “I went abroad after the 70s and worked in trade there. Without breaking away from our historical roots, we returned to our village and our home despite the damage caused by the earthquake. We are trying to build our house. Our village was an exemplary village; there were around 150 houses, and in the end, about 30 houses remain. We are currently living in a container, and our hope is for our houses to be completed so we can move into them.”
'WE DO NOT WANT TO BE DISCONNECTED FROM OUR HOMELAND'
Expressing that his days in the village are going well and that he spends time with his friends, Yağbasan added, “The life in our village saddened us; we were living abroad, but we did not forget this place. At the very least, we started to provide financial aid firsthand. We believed that instead of expecting everything from the state, it is right for the citizens to also take responsibility. I have 4 children; I have stayed abroad for nearly 55 years. We do not want to be disconnected from our homeland; our country is a beautiful country. I have traveled to many parts of the world; the air and water here revitalize me. I was constantly getting sick there. I am very comfortable here and I almost don't use medicine, and I don't get sick. There is a headman's office and a grocery store; we have a table there where we gather, chat, and have a good time.”