Refugees

Izmir: the tractor is also active in the Winter

Refugees arriving in record numbers in the EU – many from Turkey, where traffickers openly act, despite pressure from the EU and the local police. Diego Cupolo reported from Izmir, in Turkey.

You must not know to whom you should contact to the Basmane square – the tractor talk new arrivals directly, and rattle off all the Details about the boat down, after Greece leaves. Just like well-practiced Callcentermitarbeitern, the products on the phone to sell, it is impossible for the men to pause.

“650 dollars”, says a young man in Arabic with a distinctly Syrian accent. The Crossing in the EU costs the equivalent of about 585 euros. “The boat leaves this evening at sunset to Lesvos… It will not be more than 35 people on Board and the driver speaks four languages.”

“First of all, I bring you to a house,” he says. “From there brings you a Van and takes you to the boat… The journey takes one hour and the boat guaranteed or you get your money back.”

Then he pushes afterwards: “Here, take my number. Call me if you have any questions. I’m still two hours to be here.”

I have a great camera to have, he seems not to notice, or it is not matter to him. As with me he is finished, he goes to a group of young men with backpacks, to give you the same to tell.

After a short conversation, he leads you into the Café, where presumably the business is concluded. Other tractor sitting in a Park on the other side of the street, and negotiate with families, their belongings in garbage bags to carry around with them.

The flight from the war

In Izmir are still bright orange life jackets sold, they are no longer out there in front of the shops. Such as people smuggling, they are a part of daily trade, just a little bit less visible than recently.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit in Ankara

On Monday visited Chancellor Angela Merkel for the Turkey, to the great number of
Refugees to speak about the country in the EU. The current slowed even through the Winter barely.

Despite growing pressure from the EU and the Turkish police will have more than 68,000 people this way alone in the past month. In January 2015, there were, according to the International organization for Migration 5000. Experts expect it to be in February, more than 68,000 refugees try to be the EU about Turkey, because tens of thousands of
the Fighting in the Syrian Aleppo province to flee.

“Europe can Turkey give money, but even $ 100 billion will not stop,” says Necep Uz, owner of a Guesthouse in the coastal town of Cesme near Izmir. Refugees are kept in Cesme, before moving to the Greek island of Chios break.

“These people are fleeing from Wars and it will always continue what is to come, until the wars cease,” says the IP, and emphasized his words with a pointing finger. “Remember my words, if you in two years, come back and nothing has changed.”

“No big Mafia”

After you smugglers in Izmir for the Crossing have to be paid, the refugees in coastal towns in the North, near the town of Ayvalik, from where the boats to Lesvos driving. Others come to Cesme further to the East, where hundreds of people in Hotels at better weather conditions wait around the Aegean sea to cross.

If the sea is rough, then this is the Hotel of Uz in Cesme is well filled. He demands $ 10 per Person or $ 60 per family, but he says that he is often also guests for free stay, can’t afford it.

“What am I supposed to do?” he says. “A mother with three children to sleep outside?”

While in its road, Afghan children play soccer, told IP that the local police it has been repeatedly arrested and threatened, his Hotel, to shut, if he continues to have people shelter offers, the to Greece to drive.

“When you see me in prison want to send, send me to jail,” says the Hotelier. “But I know that I nothing wrong with do. There are the tractors, the people bring… The police says that the big cartels, but there are groups of people – no big mafias.”

Just don’t go back to their country of origin

Alo, a 25-year-old Iranians, the money earned by it houses painting, living for two days in a room in the guest house. He has a tractor $ 1,000 for a place on a small boat is paid for and waiting for the Wind, so he to Europe can drive. During his waiting time in Cesme, he has fake Afghan documents for $ 100 bought, so he the border control in the Balkans can happen, the only refugees from war zones to pass through.

On the question of why he Iran has left, lifts Ali his Shirt up and shows the scars he received from hundreds of whippings, has suffered – as a punishment, because he is Drinking of alcohol was caught.

“I want to go to Germany or Denmark or even go to jail in Europe,” he says. “Anywhere, only not to Iran.”

As the “German Holiday Village” had to leave, refugees will have a pot full of food left behind

To the police the area last month, has been cleared, were refugees from Chios wanted to, in an abandoned apartment complex on the outskirts of Cesme on the “German Holiday Village”. Now you have to for a roof over your head pay, but Volunteers for a local support group to help with food, clothing, and even medical help to the refugees free of charge.

Ali Yalvacli, the Director of the charity from Cesme, says that his group attempts to keep people from getting the dangerous path to Chios to take.

“It is difficult to convince you to stay here,” says Yalvacli. “It’s not just about the Stay – the Problem is it to find a job and a life in Turkey in the build. What would you do here?”

Back to the Basmane square in Izmir: A group of, mainly women and children, sitting at a weekend evening on a street corner, surrounded by their bags. Compared to parks a police car. The officials see as three wagons ancestors and all your Luggage hineinquetschen.

In a Café in the vicinity are two men talk in Arabic.

“When are we going going in tonight?” asks one.

“One o’clock”, replies the other.

“How many do we have?”

“Four.”