The Joint Syrian-Turkish Committee to follow up on the affairs of the Syrian nationals in Turkey held a workshop to discuss issues related to migration by sea to European Union countries. Participants included people with past experiences and families of missing persons.
The workshop also brought together members of the Committee, local and international organizations, and Syrian media outlets. Representative of the Syrian National Coalition and member of the Committee, Nazir al-Hakim, said that those who are drowning are not just numbers. He opened the door for discussion to identify the motives of those who had previous experiences and to suggest solutions that could help Syrian refugees to settle down then submit them to decision makers.
People with past experiences talked about the motives behind their risking of their lives along with their families in the sea. They explained that the most prominent of these motives was the difficulty in obtaining personal documents, which constitutes a major obstacle in the settlement process with regards to registering the place of residence, getting jobs, and enrolling their children in schools.
The Committee warned of taking the risk of travelling in the “death boats,” especially during these winter conditions when the sea water is high and very dangerous. It called for making use of the services provided by the Committee and the rest of the international institutions and organizations in order to ensure stability and legal protection.
The workshop put forward a set of recommendations to reduce the risks and challenges facing Syrian nationals in Turkey and neighboring countries as well as to build a network of communication between Syrian nationals and decision-makers in the organizations and institutions working to provide services to them.
This workshop came as part of a program launched by the Committee with the aim of connecting Syrian nationals in Turkey with Turkish and international organizations and institutions which implement projects supporting stability and help them solve their problems. (Source: Syrian National Coalition’s Media Department)
