İhsan Özdemir was forced to migrate from Van to Istanbul with his family when he was only 15 years old.

The village evacuations in the 1990s displaced the Özdemir family, like thousands of others.

Since that day, 28 years have passed in Istanbul, one of the most crowded and visible cities in the world.

“The wound has deepened, there was no choice but to come to Istanbul”

İhsan Özdemir, who worked various jobs in construction sites and clothing workshops after migrating, currently supports himself in the tailor shop he opened in Küçükçekmece.

However, despite all these years, his longing for his hometown has never subsided.

“The wound got deeper and deeper, there was no other option, we came to Istanbul.

I sometimes see my hometown in my dreams. I want to go, but I can only go once a year, if there is a wedding or something.

I could never go on vacation or to travel. That is why I feel like a longing person.

I want to live there, but it is not possible due to economic reasons.”

After the migration: Trying to stay afloat

Building a new life in Istanbul was not easy for Özdemir.

While trying to survive in the crowds, he also struggled with the deep loneliness of being separated from his land.

Although he has started his own business today, his longing for Van is still one of his strongest feelings.