This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34141716

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
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 Tima, a Vancouver hairdresser. Alan set out before dawn that morning from Bodrum in 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 Tima, a hairdresser in Vancouver.
The family joined a group of refugees aboard two boats setting out from the Turkish resort town of Bodrum for the Greek island of Kos, some 4km (2.5 miles) away. 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 had joined with a group of refugees aboard two small boats to attempt the 4km (2.5 mile) crossing. Abdullah texted his sister Tima from the beach to say they were leaving. "I passed the message to my dad in Syria, to everybody: Abdullah is leaving now, pray for his safety."
But her prayers went unanswered. The two small boats were hit by high waves minutes after they set off and the captain fled. Abdullah Kurdi found himself fighting to save his two young boys. Of the 23 people in the group, 14 are believed to have died, including Abdullah's wife and sons.
It was 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.It was 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 Tima told us today that this was a Turkish version of the name given by Turkish officials - his Kurdish name was Alan.
Stateless
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.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.
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. But those without documents are obliged to register at a refugee camp and stay there, or they are "irregular" - living illegally outside of camps.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.
Limbo
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.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.
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. Tima Kurdi had sponsored a "G5" private asylum application for the family of her other brother, Mohammad. Financial constraints and the complexity of the process meant she had to tackle one family at a time - Mohammad was chosen first because he had school-age children.
Canada's Department of Citizenship and Immigration said it has no record of an application received for Abdullah Kurdi and his family. But the application was rejected by Canadian immigration authorities. Canada's Department of Citizenship and Immigration told the BBC the application was "incomplete as it did not meet regulatory requirements for proof of refugee status recognition".
"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. The reason for the rejection was simple, said Tima; the Kurdis had no passports and no Turkish work permits - documents they were unable to retain.
Teema Kurdi later told a news conference that she had not submitted an asylum application for Abdullah and his family. When the first asylum application was rejected in June, "there was no hope" of Abdullah and his family obtaining the correct paperwork for a successful application, she said. And so they headed for the coastline.
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 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.
The Kurdis had made three previous attempts to leave Turkey before their fourth and final, family members told the BBC. Under darkness, the family's boat was pushed out into the waves. Within minutes they were in trouble. In heartbreaking detail, Abdullah described the moment his young family drowned.
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.
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.
"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 said he intends to fly his family to Istanbul and then home 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.
"It is too late to save Abdullah's family," said Tima. "Please let's use our collective voices to make change and demand that our world leaders take action now to pass emergency refugee measures. Let's put an end to this suffering. Our hearts have been broken."