Syrian Child Refugees in Izmir - Turkey

Photos (20)

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Two friends, freshly arrived from Aleppo, are struggling to find food or support. They told me how nice and beautiful Syria was before the war, and that their life was very simple but good. Now they have no other choice than to be in Turkey. Everything is destroyed. They are begging on the streets and are collecting plastic in the Basmane district
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Akram Oman, 14, is from Rakka . He arrived two weeks ago with his family - running from Isis. He lives in an abandoned house with no electricity or running water and collects plastic with his brothers and sisters.24
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Kalled, 12, is from Al Bab - a city near Aleppo. He is working since he is 10 and is producing steel tables and other furniture. He doesn’t attend school and supports his father to pay for high bills. He earns about €25 per week.
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Since the agreement between Turkey and Europe the journey to Europe has become more expensive and more difficult. Also, some families are too scared as they have heard about the many deaths and the appalling conditions on the other side. Instead of providing legal ways for refugees to travel, this route remains the only illegal option.
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The industrial area of Karabağlar district in Izmir, where thousands of children are working between 12 and 13 hours per day, six days a week.
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Abdul Kadir, 14, arrived one year ago with his older brother’s family (25 years old). He came from Al Bab, a city near Aleppo, escaping from Isis. Abdul lost his right eye due to shrapnel. Instead of going to school he is working 13 hours per day as a car mechanic. He would prefer to attend school, but his family needs money to pay for rent and bills.
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Dawood, 15, is from a town called Al Hasakah. He produces chrome chairs and is working since he is 12 years old. He never went to school since he lives in Turkey.
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Abdul Kadir
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Jalal, 9, is a car mechanic. He came to Turkey with his parents and is from Aleppo.
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Kalled, 12, is from Al Bab - a city near Aleppo. He is working since he is 10 and is producing steel tables and other furniture. He doesn’t attend school and supports his father to pay for high bills. He earns about €25 per week.
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Abdullah, 9 years old, is making shoes. He is working since six months and his parents are in Syria. He came with is older brother who is also producing shoes.
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11 year old Abdul from Aleppo. His mother died in Syria and he is working everyday to support his ill father.
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Amar, 12, is from Aleppo and produces book shelves
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15Hassan (14) and Ahmed (13) both from Aleppo are working in a company producing beds and matresses.
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Jamal, 15, from Aleppo is working in a tea house servin Jay.
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There also are many children who are begging on the street, or are selling tissues and water bottles. Many are collecting plastic. None of them are attending school. Here two brothers, 12 and 9 years old are selling tissues and candy. Their mother is sick at home and their father is still in Aleppo.
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Hassan, 11, is selling tissues with his younger brother (9). He is from Aleppo. His father is dead and his mother is at home without a job. They are living in the Basmane district, which is a poor area where many Syrian refugees are living today.
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A boy - in the Basmane district - is collecting plastic and carrying huge bags alsmost as big as himself.
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These brothers and sisters just arrived two weeks ago . Their parents are from Rakka city, and were running away from Isis. They are living in Basmane, in an abandonded house without electricity or running water. They are all collecting plastic or are begging on the streets.
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Cesme - a costal town in Izmir - was one of the main hotspots for Syrian refugees to aim for Greece. In the horizon - just 6 miles away - is the Greek island Chios. The trip in low quality rubber boats that are always overloaded has cost many lives
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