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Alan Kurdi death: A Syrian Kurdish family forced to flee Alan Kurdi death: A Syrian Kurdish family forced to flee
(35 minutes later)
The drowned boy who washed up on a Turkish beach on Wednesday, whose picture cut through the refugee debate in an instant, was three-year-old Alan Kurdi from Kobane in Syria.The drowned boy who washed up on a Turkish beach on Wednesday, whose picture cut through the refugee debate in an instant, was three-year-old Alan Kurdi from Kobane in Syria.
Alan set out early that morning from Turkey for the Greek island of Kos with his father Abdullah, mother Rehanna, and five-year-old brother Ghalib. The Kurdis were trying to reach Canada to reunite with Abdullah's sister Teema, a Vancouver hairdresser.Alan set out early that morning from Turkey for the Greek island of Kos with his father Abdullah, mother Rehanna, and five-year-old brother Ghalib. The Kurdis were trying to reach Canada to reunite with Abdullah's sister Teema, a Vancouver hairdresser.
The family joined a group of refugees aboard two boats setting out from the Turkish resort town of Bodrum. A few hours later, Abdullah was back on dry land and his wife and sons were dead. Of the 23 people in the group, 14 are believed to have died.The family joined a group of refugees aboard two boats setting out from the Turkish resort town of Bodrum. A few hours later, Abdullah was back on dry land and his wife and sons were dead. Of the 23 people in the group, 14 are believed to have died.
It was, tragically, not a high number in a summer scarred by mass deaths in the Mediterranean, but the images that emerged set the incident apart. Having floated back to Turkish shores, Alan was pictured lying face down in the sand, his body terribly small, dressed in a red shirt, blue shorts and velcro shoes. In another picture he was seen cradled by the guard who carried him away. It was, tragically, not a high number in a summer scarred by mass deaths in the Mediterranean, but the images that emerged set the incident apart. Having floated back to Turkish shores, Alan was pictured lying face down in the sand, his body terribly small, dressed in a red shirt, blue shorts and velcro shoes. In another picture he was seen cradled in the arms of the guard who carried him away.
His name has been spelt 'Aylan' by much of the media, including the BBC, but his aunt Teema Kurdi told us today that this was a Turkish version of the name given by Turkish officials - his Kurdish name was Alan.His name has been spelt 'Aylan' by much of the media, including the BBC, but his aunt Teema Kurdi told us today that this was a Turkish version of the name given by Turkish officials - his Kurdish name was Alan.
StatelessStateless
As Syrian Kurds, the Kurdis' chances of being granted asylum in Canada were probably hampered from the moment they set out for Turkey. As Syrian Kurds, the Kurdis' chances of being granted asylum in Canada were hampered from the moment they set out for Turkey. For many years, Syria denied its Kurdish population citizenship and Kurds were regarded as stateless by the authorities. A decree in 2011 allowed some to apply for citizenship but others were ineligible and many were forced to flee before they could apply.
For many years, Syria denied its Kurdish population citizenship and Kurds were regarded as stateless by the authorities. A decree in 2011 allowed some to apply for citizenship but others were ineligible and many were forced to flee before they could apply.
The Kurdis had been living in Damascus until the early stages of the Syrian conflict in late 2011. When the violence in the city escalated, they relocated back to Makharij village, 25km outside the northern town of Kobane.The Kurdis had been living in Damascus until the early stages of the Syrian conflict in late 2011. When the violence in the city escalated, they relocated back to Makharij village, 25km outside the northern town of Kobane.
When Kobane became a flashpoint in the conflict between Kurdish fighters and Islamic State militants in late 2014, the family fled along with tens of thousands of others for Turkey. But while crossing Turkey's open border gave them refuge, it did not give them status.When Kobane became a flashpoint in the conflict between Kurdish fighters and Islamic State militants in late 2014, the family fled along with tens of thousands of others for Turkey. But while crossing Turkey's open border gave them refuge, it did not give them status.
Turkey was the first of Syria's neighbours to respond formally to the refugee crisis, declaring a temporary protection policy in October 2011 that guaranteed no Syrian refugees would be sent home.Turkey was the first of Syria's neighbours to respond formally to the refugee crisis, declaring a temporary protection policy in October 2011 that guaranteed no Syrian refugees would be sent home.
Under the policy, those with passports are given a year-long residence permit and are free to move. Under the policy, those with passports are given a year-long residence permit and are free to move. But those without documents are obliged to register at a refugee camp and stay there, or they are "irregular" - living illegally outside of camps.
But those without documents are obliged to register at a refugee camp and stay there, or they are "irregular" - living illegally outside of camps.
LimboLimbo
This is the situation the Kurdis may have found themselves in, staying in Istanbul but desperate to leave Turkey. This is the situation the Kurdis found themselves in, staying in Istanbul but desperate to leave Turkey. Such people are in a kind of limbo - unable to obtain exit visas from Turkey because they lack passports and unable to win asylum elsewhere because they lack exit visas.
Such people are in a kind of limbo - unable to obtain exit visas from Turkey because they lack passports and unable to win asylum elsewhere because they lack exit visas. Abdullah's sister Teema, a Vancouver hairdresser, initially said she sponsored a "G5" private asylum application for Canada for her brother and his family, but it later emerged that the application had been for the family of Mohammad Kurdi, a different brother.
Abdullah's sister Teema, a Vancouver hairdresser, initially said she sponsored a "G5" private asylum application for Canada for her brother and his family. Canada's Department of Citizenship and Immigration said it has no record of an application received for Abdullah Kurdi and his family.
"I was trying to sponsor them," Teema said, "and I have my friends and my neighbours who helped me with the bank deposits, but we couldn't get them out, and that is why they went in the boat."
Canadian MP Fin Donnelly has said he hand-delivered the Kurdis' application to the country's immigration minister Chris Alexander.
Canada's Department of Citizenship and Immigration says it has no record of an application received for Abdullah Kurdi and his family.
"An application for Mr Mohammad Kurdi [believed to be Abdullah and Teema's brother] and his family was received by the department but was returned as it was incomplete as it did not meet regulatory requirements for proof of refugee status recognition," the department told the BBC."An application for Mr Mohammad Kurdi [believed to be Abdullah and Teema's brother] and his family was received by the department but was returned as it was incomplete as it did not meet regulatory requirements for proof of refugee status recognition," the department told the BBC.
Teema Kurdi later told a news conference that she had not submitted an asylum application for Abdullah and his family.Teema Kurdi later told a news conference that she had not submitted an asylum application for Abdullah and his family.
Mr Alexander said on Thursday he would meet officials to "ascertain both the facts of the case of the Kurdi family and to receive an update on the migrant crisis". Chris Alexander, Canada's immigration minister, said on Thursday he would meet officials to "ascertain both the facts of the case of the Kurdi family and to receive an update on the migrant crisis".
The Kurdis had made three previous attempts to leave Turkey, family members told the BBC, but all failed. The Kurdis had made three previous attempts to leave Turkey before their fourth and final, family members told the BBC.
On the fourth attempt they worked with people in Izmir to get them to the coast and then on to Kos by boat. They are believed to have paid €4,000 (£2,900; $4,400) for the crossing - several times the cost of an airfare to Canada for the whole family. On the fourth attempt, they worked with people in Izmir to get them to the coast and then on to Kos by boat. They are believed to have paid €4,000 (£2,900; $4,400) for the crossing - several times the cost of an airfare to Canada for the whole family.
Except, of course, they never made it. The two small boats were hit by high waves just a few minutes after they set off and the captain fled. Abdullah Kurdi found himself fighting to save his two young boys.Except, of course, they never made it. The two small boats were hit by high waves just a few minutes after they set off and the captain fled. Abdullah Kurdi found himself fighting to save his two young boys.
In heartbreaking detail, he described the moment his young family drowned.In heartbreaking detail, he described the moment his young family drowned.
"I tried to catch my children and wife but there was no hope. One by one they died," he said."I tried to catch my children and wife but there was no hope. One by one they died," he said.
"I tried to steer the boat but another high wave pushed the boat over. That is when it happened."I tried to steer the boat but another high wave pushed the boat over. That is when it happened.
"My children were the most beautiful children in the world. Is there anybody in the world for whom their child is not the most precious thing?"My children were the most beautiful children in the world. Is there anybody in the world for whom their child is not the most precious thing?
"My kids were amazing. They woke me everyday to play with me. What is more beautiful than this? Everything is gone."My kids were amazing. They woke me everyday to play with me. What is more beautiful than this? Everything is gone.
"I would love to sit next to the grave of my family now and relieve the pain I feel.""I would love to sit next to the grave of my family now and relieve the pain I feel."
He intends to fly his family to Istanbul and then on to Kobane, where he will bury them. He said he intends to fly his family to Istanbul and then home to Kobane, where he will bury them.