Despite considerable risks | Emigration from SDF-controlled areas to Europe through Turkey noticeably escalates

Recently, the number of migrants, who sneak from SDF-controlled areas to Turkey then to Europe with the help of smugglers in “Peace Spring” area, has escalated greatly, as many Syrians attempt to flee from the dreadful living conditions and mandatory conscription in these areas.

 

According to SOHR activists, tens of families gather almost daily in villages adjacent Ras Al-Ain city (Seri Kaniye) which is controlled by Turkish forces and their proxy factions, attempting to sneak into Turkey and them emigrate to Europe, disregarding the considerable risks and challenges they may face.

 

Those people, who attempt to seek a safe haven outside Syria, move in groups of 60 up to 100 people, where smuggling operations take place in coordination with a network of smugglers from “Peace Spring” area and others from SDF-controlled areas. Those smugglers communicate with civilians who want to cross into Turkey and check there status, depending on their relations with security officials, to make sure that they are not combatants or agents affiliated to Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) and Internal Security Forces (Asayish).

 

Meanwhile, some “clients” are subjected to extortion, as smugglers, on several occasions, have tipped off some civilians and informed Turkish-backed factions that they were affiliated to military formations. Accordingly, Turkish-backed factions have arrested those civilians and asked them to pay extra sums of money in return for their release.

 

Trips from SDF-controlled areas to areas under the control of Turkish-backed factions start from a soil barrier in Al-Aliyah area in Tel Tamr countryside to Al-Zaydi village in Al-Hasakah countryside passing through the villages of Al-Tarwaziyah, Mabroukah and Al-Makef, on the M4 highway to the north-west of Al-Hasakah. According to SOHR sources, smugglers help civilians to cross those villages in coordination with SDF military personnel, after paying large sums of money.

 

SOHR sources have also confirmed that the cost of the trip from SDF-controlled areas to Turkey reaches 3,500 USD per a person. On some occasions, civilians pay money to smugglers after reaching Turkish territory, while other smugglers take a share of money after crossing each zone of influence. Meanwhile, smugglers are responsible for food and drink which migrants need during the trip.

 

After reaching “Peace Spring” area, migrants are transported by military buses to Ras Ain city then to Turkish territory, via a risky route used for smuggling.

 

SOHR sources have confirmed that Turkish-backed factions have divided the area, which smuggled civilians pass through during their trip in “Peace Spring” area, into sectors, with each sector dominated by a different faction. These sectors are distributed as follows:

 

• The area from Tel Arqam to Al-Rawiyah villages: “Shuhadaa Badr” faction supervises the smugglers’ vehicles while travelling on a road of 25 kilo metres long linking those villages.

 

• The area from Tel Halaf to Al-Mabroukah which are under the control of Al-Hamza Division.

 

• The area of Al-Matallah which are under the control of Al-Malik Shah Division.

 

• Allouk village which is controlled by Sultan Murad Division.

 

It is worth noting that those factions make fortune from smuggling operations, as they receives large sums of money from smugglers to allow their vehicles to cross through all crossings in areas under their control. Meanwhile, clashes erupted on many occasions among Turkish-backed factions following disagreements over revenue-sharing.

 

Speaking to SOHR, a civilian, who managed to leave SDF-controlled areas among a group of other civilians with the help of smugglers, said “I left Tel Tamr area with the help of a smuggler known as A. Y., before another man drove the group to Tarwaziyah area in Ras Al-Ain countryside. I stayed with militiamen of Ahrar Al-Sharqiyyah faction in Al-Tarwaziyah for three days, then the group and I were transported by a military bus to Ras Al-Ain city, before we were taken to a gathering point near the Syria-Turkey border. Nearly 70 people were gathered in a house where we stayed for two days. The group crossed the border strip in two batches, where the first group, which comprised nearly 30 people, including women and children, arrived in Turkish territory on the first day. On the following day, smugglers attempted to lead the second group, my group, to Turkey, after they promised us that the trip would be safe and easy. After having walked for nearly 100 metres, crossing the border wall, we did not find the bus which was supposed to take us into Turkey. The Turkish Jandarma arrested the entire group and beat us cruelly, before the dumped us in Syrian side of the border, in “Peace Spring” area.”

 

It is worth noting that the scourge of Syria’s war, which has been still raging for over 11 years, spurs many Syrians to risk their safety and lives by leaving their homeland in illegal ways, mostly attempt to sneak into Europe through Turkey with the help of smugglers.