There are many people who wants to join the YPG in Syria and the Kurds in Iraq. I have met some of them during my latest reporting trip in Rojava at the end of November. Most of them just wanted to go and fight the Daash (the Islamic State) others, mainly veterans, decided to leave their life behind also because they didn’t fit into civilian life. “Nothing makes sense,” said Jordan Matson, a former US army soldier.
Many of them are refugees running from wars and conflicts. Others are escaping famine, illness, and searching for a better future. All of them want to get to Europe and in order to do so are willing to pay thousands of dollars to make the trip.They are willing to become “three-d” workers- those willing to take dirty, dangerous, and/or degrading jobs that national citizens are unwilling to do.
The smuggling routes themselves change within the political context of North Africa and the Balkans. Since the 80’s smuggling illegal migrants became a very lucrative business. The actors involved are often criminals who move as well guns and drugs.
In 2014 most migrants came from the sea route; the easiest route since the chaos began during Libyan revolution of 2011. With Gaddafi deposed, the bilateral agreements between the Colonel and Italy came to an end. As a result nobody is patrolling the coasts and smugglers can easily transport people without the risk of being stopped at coastal checkpoints. From January to August nearly 113,000 immigrants arrived on Italian ports. At least other 3,000 drowned. They mainly arrive from Eritrea (28,557) Syria (23,945) and from Sub-Saharan Africa (14,347).
There are also other ways to enter Europe and one of these is in the false bottom of a truck which conceals a secret compartment.
While Islamic State militants are sizing more and more villages in Syria, at least 130,000 refugees escaped into Turkey over the weekend. Many more are expected. On Friday reporters pictured men and women praising for help and implored Turkish border patrollers to open the fences and just let them go through. Through the UNHCR, the UN agency dedicated to refugees, they finally got the access into the country. But as soon as they got in, some troubles started, since on Sunday they closed the borders again.
“Look how my family is living”
These pictures were sent to me on Wednesday evening. They were taken in Zakho, Iraq. The town, which is in the Kurdistan region, is at the border with Turkey and it is currently hosting several Yazidi families who escaped from ISIS in the Sinjar area. Thousands of them just want to leave Iraq for good. “We don’t have any future here. We are not muslim and we will always be harassed” said Fahrani over the phone from an IDP camp.
