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Syrian refugees mark another Eid in Turkey without celebratory atmosphere

Xinhua, September 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

As the Syrian conflict enters its fifth year, millions of Syrians who seek refuge in neighboring Turkey will spend their Eid al-Adha far away from familiar surroundings and their loved ones.

Recently, thousands of refugees rushed to Turkey's border with Europe, demanding to travel to Greece for more welfare, but their appeal was met with prevention by riot police. Hundreds are still waiting in northwestern Edirne and Istanbul provinces.

Refugees complain of Turkey's failure to grant them full refugee status, which has made it a struggle to access basic services and jobs.

"Turkey didn't provide them official refugee status, therefore Syrians do not have the right to work in the country," former UNHCR officer and Vice Chairman of Asylum and Migration Research Center Metin Corabatir told Xinhua.

"They see Europe as the only hope and chase a dream, even if risking their lives," he said.

The flow of refugees seeking to reach Europe through Turkey via Aegean Sea has been increasing, and the death toll continues to rise as more vessels try and fail to reach Greece.

"Civil society and humanitarian relief organizations will collect animals slaughtered for Eid al-Adha and deliver it to refugees," Corabatir noted, adding that they also distribute food, clothing, and other forms of assistance.

Nearly 5,000 Syrian refugees living in Turkey cross back into Syria despite clashes in the border in order to mark the Eid al-Adha with their families, local Dogan News Agency reported.

Groups of Syrians gathered in Oncupinar border crossing of Turkey, which has been closed since March, in order to cross into Syria. They have registered and crossed the border, the report said, adding that security officials will allow their crossings till the end of Eid al-Adha.

Beyen Alevat, displaced from Syria's Aleppo, said she lives in a room with her seven sisters. "We had great Eid festivals in Syria. We miss those days a lot. We want to go back to our country, go back to those days."

Turkey hosts nearly 2.3 million refugees as of this September, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Nearly 260,000 Syrians are accommodated in refugee camps, and the rest is living in provincial capitals across Turkey. The country also hosts more than 200,000 Iraqi refugees fleeing from Islamic State (IS) violence in their hometown. Endit