(Zaman Al Wasl)- Trafficking trade has grown after the shutting the border crossings and constructing a four meter high cement wall along the Turkish border has not stopped smugglers’ work, Syrian refugees say.
Abu Muhammed, who recently arrived to Turkey, told Zaman al-Wasl, “Smugglers were earning between 250 and 400 US Dollars, per person, in exchange for getting them into Turkey."
However, displaced people from the areas around Damascus heading towards Idlib raised the price. Most of the displaced chose to travel to Turkey.
The price has increased to average 800 US Dollars. Despite the high price, arriving is not guaranteed, “No access, no security, nothing,” commented Abu Mohammed, “Despite the large amount, there are always cases of looting on the road by people who coordinate with the smuggler to collect as much as possible from the people being smuggled. This happened to me when I crossed the border, two men speaking Turkish stopped us at the border and demanded 500 US Dollars for the whole convoy in return for not informing the gendarmes. We collected the amount and paid it as the smuggler requested.”
In addition to insecurity, smugglers often leave their convoys en route in mountains or a valley if they hear the gendarme or shooting happens.
In a recent incident, a smuggler left an infant, one-year-old, on the mountain after he volunteered to carry her for her family during the journey. When he heard the sound of the Turkish gendarme, he left her in the mountain and ran. Her family were caught by the gendarme and returned to Syria. The child was found dead a few days later at the border. She died from asphyxiation. It is believed she died after the smuggler threw her when he ran.
Although the Turkish government closed the border crossings to arrivals, Bab al-Hawa border crossing which is the most important land crossing point in Idlib province is still open to people wanting to enter Turkey but it costs a sum of money according to Abu Yasser who is from Qaboun neighborhood in Damascus and living In Idlib now.
He emphasized that those wanting to enter Turkey via the crossing have to pay between 2500 US Dollars to 3500 US Dollars per person. In addition to the high cost, there are many cases of deceit.
In one case, a smuggler promised an old woman to transport to Turkey during the night. He took her through a mountain pass, hit her and threw her out of the car. The smuggler stole all her money, around 3000 US Dollars and her documents.
Abu Yasser added, “Those who cannot pay these sums must register with the Medical Committee at the border crossing. The Committee will give them a turn after at least two months, and then they may be accepted or refused.”
It is necessary to mention, many Syrians trying to cross recently have been shot by the Turkish gendarmes as they tried to cross the border into Turkey. There are videos of the Turkish gendarmes abusing Syrians caught trying to cross into Turkey illegally.
Zaman A Wasl
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