The government's war policy, earthquake disaster, economic crisis, coronavirus epidemic and the opening of huge super markets everywhere in the city center are bringing small tradesmen to the verge of collapse.

Following the 2011 earthquake in Van, tradesmen were trusting the gradual delayed in tax payments but hoped taxes will be cancel as it happened after the Marmara earthquake. The tradesmen had many difficulties in paying loans and thus their relations with banks deteriorated.

Kapıköy Border Gate, which is one of the most important sources of income for Van craftsmen, has been closed for about a year due to the coronavirus epidemic. Small shopkeepers, who have survived to some extent with border crossing trade in the past years, want the Kapıköy border gate to be open 24 hours a day.

Faruk Bilgi, who is trying to survive, said that his problems are getting bigger every day. Noting that tradesmen have been abandoned due to the economic crisis and the epidemic process Bilgi said: "The fact that trades are closed negatively affects us. Today we are unable to pay our rents. We have consumed what we have in our pocket in the last year. If there is no recovery, the tradesmen will have to close shutters for good. Nobody listens to us. We do not know what to do. Words are not enough to explain our problem. The closure of the Kapıköy border gate negatively affects the tradesmen of Van.”

Suat Acar, who runs a canteen shop, stated that he has not been able to work for one year and added: "The support alleged to be given to us is not enough. I run a canteen in a school. It will probably not open until September. The government is not carrying out any work on this issue. Even if our businesses are opened tomorrow, we will have to earn to pay the debts we have acquired for a few years.”

Acar continues: “Supports need to be provided, interest-free loan opportunities must be offered. I don't think we will be able to resist without support. Small tradesmen are getting worse by the day. We cannot compete with super markets anyway. We buy goods in packages, they buy trucks pf them and this means buying goods even cheaper. It is not possible for us to compete with them."

Restaurant owner Vahdet Tekin, who has been working for 20 years, said: “I am working here with 20 people. We applied for a loan but could not get it due to high interest rates. If it continues like this, we will close the shutter. 90 percent of the trades in Turkey in a difficult situation."