İZMİR - A refugee, R.A who came to Turkey running away from the war in Afghanistan has been repatriated 10 times to Turkey by Greece. R.A stating that his country is in ruins because of the war, said: "Open the borders, we are just here to survive."

 

The transportation of the refugees to the border continues after AKP Chair Tayyip Erdoğan said the borders will be open, following the deaths of the soldiers in Idlib.  Those who cannot cross the border, who are used as a means of political blackmail against European countries, are prevented from returning to their previous places. One of the routes used by refugees to leave is the Aegean coast of Turkey. Although hundreds of refugees have lost their lives as a result of capsized boats,their efforts to leave Turkey continues.

 

REPATRIATED 10 TIMES

 

26 years old refugee R.A who was a soldier at the Afghanistan army is one of the people who would like to go to Greece. R.A who came to Turkey a year ago, tried to cross the sea to Greece 10 times but everytime he tried, he was repatriated to Turkey.

 

THE WAR RUINED AFGHANISTAN

 

Explaining that he started working in a pallet factory in Antalya, R.A. said that he quitted the job due to low wages and then came to Izmir to cross to Europe. Stating that he fought against the Taliban for 5 years, R.A. said that he left his country to lead a normal life. R.A said: "I fought 5 years in the army in Afghanistan. It was very hard, I could not stand it anymore and I left. It is not easy to lead a normal life there. The war has ruined the country. The economy is very bad, there are no jobs. My mom and dad are too old to leave Afghanistan. I have four brothers. When I was in the military, my brother went to Germany. Now he lives there. Me and my sister are trying to go to live with him now."

 

 

'AN INFLATABLE BOAT BECOMES YOUR HOPE'

 

Emphasizing that they are not given work and residence permits, R.A said: "They tell us to live in pilot provinces. But they are small places. There are no jobs. There are jobs in metropols but because we don't have permits we are worked illegally. Our wages are really low. Its even almost impossible to pay our rent in our apartment we hired with a few friends. My familiy expects me to help them. That's why we have to leave. I Tried to go to Greece by the sea 10 times. The first time, I was so scared. But the inflatable boat becomes your hope. You get used to the sea and stop being scared."

 

R.A continued: "Greece closed its borders. Their soldiers are beating up our friends. I have relatives waiting in Edirne. Its cold and the people there don't even have access to water. I don't know what will happen but all we can do is to wait. Greece must open its borders. We are human too. We are just here to survive."

 

MA / Sevda Aydın