Sulaimani elderly couple determined to maintain village life

SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region - A family of two in a remote Sulaimani village has decided not to exchange village life for city life, citing a deep attachment to their lifestyle after about 30 years. 

“The others have abandoned this place, but what can I say? We are here, taking care of our animals. I am happy here, truly happy,” Khajij Ahmed, a village resident, told Rudaw on the foothills of Asos Mountain. 

Ahmed added that she has requested to be buried there after her death. 

Villagers of nearby villages explain why people are not interested in village life anymore, with a lack of transportation and ease of access to basic necessities pushing villagers to move to the cities. 

Some also prefer urban life due to the lack of entertainment in villages such as football fields.

Bakir Haji Salih, a resident of another village, mentioned several reasons why he prefers urban life.

“As for public services, we don’t have hospitals here, nor do we have a football field. There are many shortcomings. If there were none, nobody would be willing to leave their village to live in a city,” he said.

Sarbaz Rashid, another villager, gave two essential reasons why the village struggles with transportation.

“There are no permanent bridges around Asos Mountain. We only have two temporary bridges, but when water levels rise, they get washed away by floods,”
There are around 15 villages near Asos Mountain, and in the past six years, six villages have been completely abandoned, according to data obtained by Rudaw.