Aksaray village resident lives alone after water scarcity forces relocation

Selami Salman, a 72-year-old man, has lived alone in the abandoned village of Gözlükuyu in Aksaray for 11 years. The village, located at the foot of Mount Hasan, once housed 180 households.

The community was forced to relocate to a settlement 8 kilometers away with government assistance after water sources dried up and the high elevation became difficult to manage. Due to financial constraints, Salman chose to remain in his two-room house.

Salman, a father of seven who lost his wife 14 years ago, manages his own needs. While he notes that living alone is not easy, he expresses a sense of peace in the village. He obtains water by traveling to nearby areas like Taşpınar or Karkın via motorcycle when weather permits, a logistical need that was previously addressed by the local governorate.