African woman who hasn't moved in five days worries locals in Istanbul

Residents of Istanbul's Beyoğlu district have asked the local government to help with an African woman who has been sitting on a wall in Ömer Hayyam neighborhood for five days, local media reported on May 24. The woman refuses to talk to anyone and only drinks water without eating, locals said.

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Residents of Istanbul's Beyoğlu district have asked local authorities for help with a woman who has been sitting on a wall in the Ömer Hayyam neighborhood for five days, local media reported on May 24.

The woman is wearing a face mask and covered her head with a cover-up from a barber's salon, locals said, adding that she has only been drinking water and not eating. 

Locals have tried to speak to the woman to no avail, and even asked for help from local African immigrants to speak to the woman in her native tongue, but she has reportedly refused.

"As locals, we've offered her food, money, but she won't accept it. Sometimes she'll sleep in the park," one local said. 

Neighborhood residents have tried to insist on helping her, but she reportedly got upset upon their insistence. 

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