Finding a shelter in neighboring Turkey becomes dilemma for newly displaced

(Reporting by Lama Shammas; Translation by Dani Murad)

(ISTANBUL-Zaman Alwasl)- Being a refugee, is no doubt one of the most severe human crisis, where people have been caught between danger at home and loss of identity in a strange land.

Fear of persecution has led millions of Syrians to flee their homes and seek safety in strange societies, where they may be isolated, different, and often impoverished, and because they find themselves in countries that don’t have the same circumstances, language or customs, finding a house or even a shelter become undoubtedly one of the most important priorities for them.

Mohammed, who recently fled to Istanbul, is no exception to any refugee searching for a house, since the $ 300 that he brought with him from Syria, are not enough for accommodation in the one star hotel, where he stayed for several days, therefore and in order not to waste time , Mohammed went as his friend “ Ghiath “ advised him, to the real estate agent ” Safooh” and told him "I’m Ghaith’s friend, and smiled when Safooh said repeatedly: “ away from home…Syrians are brothers, we have only each others to support”.

Safooh told Mohammed about the difficulties he might face and suffer from, if he goes to the Turkish real estate agents, because according to them and to the houses' owners, Syrians are just terrorists, even if they are proved to be innocent!

A furnished room, in an average house shared by young Syrians in “Aksaray” area, for 300 TL, that was Safooh’s deal ,which was accepted by Mohammed without discussion, however, after moving into the house, he was surprised to know that he has to share his room with another Syrian man ,and learned from his room-mates that Safooh rented three houses from Turkish real estate bokers, and then leased the rooms again for young Syrians, controlling the prices and taking advantage of the refugees who needed houses as soon as possible ,thus achieving high profits.

Mohmmed concludes saying: "Necessity is the mother of invention” a proverb used by some Syrians who entered the real estate business, but on their own way, by creating a mini real estate market to serve the Syrians inside the big market.

More than 9.3 million people in Syria are internally displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance and more than 2.8 million people have fled to the neighboring countries. A crisis deteriorating at a rapid pace and threatening the whole region with a near refugees explosion, UNHCR said.