MERSİN- The temporary identity process that the 205 thousand 784 Syrians living in Mersin want to have turns into suffering. Some refugees are waiting in line for 10 days.

 

According to the Interior Ministry for Migration report prepared by the Directorate General of Administration, the number of Syrian refugees who fled civil war in their country have reached 3 million 567 thousand 130. According to the report, 225 thousand 557 of these refugees live in temporary shelter centers while 3 million 341 thousand 573 of them lives in the cities of Turkey.The provinces where the Syrians  under temporary protection are: Istanbul, Bursa, Izmir, Konya, Adana, Mersin, Hatay, Antep, Kilis and Urfa. The number of Syrians living in Mersin was determined to be 205 thousand 784 people.

 

Refugees who apply to get temporary ID cards from the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management located in the district of Akdeniz have to wait in front of the center day and night to get this card. Even though these cards offers some rights about health, education, travel and work, refugees have to wait for days for long hours in bad weather conditions. Many refugees are waiting outside the building early in the morning wrapped in blankets they bring with them to be in the front lines of the queue. Refugees are sometimes exposed to insults by employees.

 

18 year old Ömer Salum who came to Urfa and then to Mersin 2 years ago from Idlib city of Syria, lost his father in the attack of ISIS. Selum whose family is still in İdlib, is a student at Harran University. Selum who stated that he needs the temporary I.D card for his brother, said he has been waiting in the queue for days and that he is afraid that refugees who does not have an I.D card is being deported by the police.

 

Selum who stated that they can not go back to Syria because there is a war, said: "We do not have education or anything in Syria right now. Erdoğan was claiming that we are his brothers, what did happen to that brotherhood? We have been waiting in line for days in the cold, we have to."

 

Mohammed Şeva (19) who have been living in Turkey for 1 and a half years now, said he has been waiting for 10 days. Şeva who said they can not move a finger without that I.D, complained that the police are sending them back to Syria when they don't have that I.D. Şeva said: "I have been waiting here for 10 days now. I stay here at night too. It is cold, but we have to do this."