It was a journey that took several weeks. Sometimes, the 65-year-old Afghan widow walked on crutches and had to be carried by her son.
She said their trek traversed 15 canyons, leaving Durdana’s feet scarred. “I haven’t had a peaceful life for more than 40 years. I have to come Turkey, There is no choice. “
Her husband, a bricklayer, was killed in a roadside bomb attack in Kabul five years ago when she suffered a heart attack. She believes that if she and her three adult children do not travel to Turkey from their home in Ghazni Province Safe houses for human smugglers in the east.
Durdana-using only one name-is one of thousands of Afghans who fled the country as a foreign army, most of whom have already left, Quit completely before the end of AugustIt is estimated that between 500 and 2,000 people arrive in Turkey every day. For a country that has already hosted 4 million refugees, this situation is shocking.
Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), has been speaking out against refugees, leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu Last month promised to “send them home” If his party is in power.
“The real survival problem of our country is the refugee tide. Now we are trapped in the floods in Afghanistan,” he said in a video posted on social media, adding that he believes there may be 500,000 to 1 million displaced Afghans. To Turkey.He has Criticize the government Because it reached an agreement with the European Union in 2016 Retaining refugees in exchange for financial support.
In July, Tanju Özcan, the mayor of the Health Protection Center of Bolu City in the northwestern city, announced plans to charge “foreigners” more than 10 times the cost of water and waste services. “We want them to leave. This hospitality has been going on for too long,” he said, adding on Twitter that Turkey “has become a dump for immigrants.”
The proposal aroused anger and support, and led to Investigation of Ozkan The chief prosecutor’s office is responsible.
As the security situation deteriorates, humanitarian agencies are preparing to cope with the increase in the number of displaced persons from Afghanistan. Taliban fighters have made great progress, Claim to have retaken at least 85% of the country, Nearly 20 years after the US-led invasion deposed them. They threaten to enforce extreme Islamic practices, exclude women from work and education, persecute ethnic minorities, and inflict violence on those who violate the rules.
Turkey’s commitment to refugees has a long history and has been Home to 3.6 million Syrians Was prevented from going to Europe 2016 Refugee AgreementBut hostility towards immigrants often surfaced, sometimes even violent, and when Turkey was dealing with its own economic problems, it was unable to deal with the new immigration crisis.
In late July, Seven members of a Kurdish family were killed In the central city of Konya, he was attacked by armed assailants, which the family’s lawyers called “completely racist” attacks.
This U.S. promises to accept thousands of Afghan refugees Contact with the United States. But this will not help them leave the country or support them during the year-long ruling process, which means that those who want to leave may need to find their own way to Iran, Pakistan or Turkey.
“The reason for our current situation is that this decision was made suddenly,” said the Afghan president. Ashraf Ghani told parliament on Monday, Accused the sudden withdrawal of US troops for increasing fighting.
Controversial remarks have also appeared in Europe. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said last week, Turkey is more suitable for immigrationIn response, Meral Akşener, Chairman of the Turkish Nationalist Good Party, Provide Austria with 3 billion euros (2.6 billion pounds) to receive its Afghans.
Many Afghans in Turkey want to move to Europe. They say that their prospects in this country are poor, and they face discrimination from landlords and employers.Police operations have also increased in the past month, exceeding 1,500 immigrants, mainly Afghans, Was detained near a province near the Iranian border in eastern Turkey.
Human smugglers say they are experiencing a surge in business, which is expected to continue in the coming months.
Durdana arrived in Turkey four days ago and talked to the Guardian from Fan’s smuggler’s safe house. She said her plan was to arrive in Germany, where she could get the medicine needed to treat her heart disease.
