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Feature: Syrians use Lebanon as transit point to Europe

Xinhua, September 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Syrian displaced Um Mohammad was aware that finding a new life away from her hometown in the devastated city of Homs is a risky matter, but still chose to leave amid death threats.

Um Mohammad spoke to Xinhua while waiting with three of her children at the main entrance of the Tripoli port in northern Lebanon, to embark the ship that would carry them to Turkey where her husband has been living for almost a year.

"Most of the travelers on aboard are Syrian going to Turkey to attempt entering the European Union (EU) from there," she said.

Since two years ago, the port has become the transit point for Syrians travelling to Turkey.

Abou Khaled, who is also among the Syrians waiting to board the ship, told Xinhua that he is trying to leave from Turkey to the EU.

He said "with 2000 U.S. dollars, a small boat would smuggle us from Turkey to a Greek island, then we will try to enter Europe by land," he said.

"Despite the strict measures of some European countries on their borders, we would secure our future if we managed to enter, but if get caught and jailed, they would at least provide us with food," Abou Khaled said.

Lebanese security sources at the port of Tripoli asserted that the Syrians are leaving Lebanon and entering Turkey legally, as they do not need entry visas to Turkey.

According to the sources, the Syrian travellers have previously coordinated with known smugglers in Turkey who would receive them in specified locations before trying to smuggle them to Europe.

"If the Syrian succeed to reach Greece, they would then go by land to Macedonia and Serbia, or Albania then Hungary before entering Germany that is receiving the Syrian refugees and offer them help," the source said.

Since some EU countries announced that they are willing to receive Syrian refugees, the rate of illegal travel of Syrians through Lebanon to Turkey and Greece have witnessed a rise.

The port of Tripoli is registering a daily movement of seven ships carrying more than 3,000 Syrians who enter Lebanon, as those registered as refugees in the country cannot leave by sea as most of them do not carry passports.

According to the United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees, Lebanon hosts more than 1.2 million Syrians. Enditem