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Refugee crisis: Desperate Iraqi Yazidis join exodus to Europe Refugee crisis: Desperate Iraqi Yazidis join exodus to Europe
(about 17 hours later)
Khatab’s eyes darted around the torch-lit room as he speaks. His family, part of Iraq’s Yazidi minority, sits around him inside the shell of a half-built home as darkness falls.Khatab’s eyes darted around the torch-lit room as he speaks. His family, part of Iraq’s Yazidi minority, sits around him inside the shell of a half-built home as darkness falls.
“Look, we have nothing,” says the nervous-looking 15-year-old, pointing to the plastic-covered holes in the walls where windows should be. Two weeks ago the teenager attempted to reach Europe, walking for 35 hours towards the Turkish-Bulgarian border before he was arrested. “He is still shaking now”, his father says.“Look, we have nothing,” says the nervous-looking 15-year-old, pointing to the plastic-covered holes in the walls where windows should be. Two weeks ago the teenager attempted to reach Europe, walking for 35 hours towards the Turkish-Bulgarian border before he was arrested. “He is still shaking now”, his father says.
Khatab was detained in Turkey for three days before being released and returning to Iraq; only to try again the day before he spoke to The Independent on Sunday. That time he was blocked by fighting between the Turkish army and militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) near the Iraq-Turkey border.Khatab was detained in Turkey for three days before being released and returning to Iraq; only to try again the day before he spoke to The Independent on Sunday. That time he was blocked by fighting between the Turkish army and militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) near the Iraq-Turkey border.
In Turkey, Khatab was afraid. “I thought the Turkish police were going to beat me and kill me like Isis,” he says. Two of Khatab’s brothers were killed by Isis last summer as the family tried to escape their town near the Sinjar mountains ahead of the jihadis’ advance. Isis calls the Yazidis, whose religion is linked to Zoroastrianism, infidels and has singled them out for mass murder and enslavement.In Turkey, Khatab was afraid. “I thought the Turkish police were going to beat me and kill me like Isis,” he says. Two of Khatab’s brothers were killed by Isis last summer as the family tried to escape their town near the Sinjar mountains ahead of the jihadis’ advance. Isis calls the Yazidis, whose religion is linked to Zoroastrianism, infidels and has singled them out for mass murder and enslavement.
The details of his sons’ deaths are too painful for Khatab’s father, Haji Talo, to explain. Mr Talo is trying to apply for a special immigration visa to the US because, he explains, he worked as a translator for the US army 10 years ago – but the process is painfully slow. In the meantime, the family are left with no choice but to send Khatab out again to try his luck on the hazardous route to Europe. “I am worried about him, but it is the only chance we have,” Mr Talo says.The details of his sons’ deaths are too painful for Khatab’s father, Haji Talo, to explain. Mr Talo is trying to apply for a special immigration visa to the US because, he explains, he worked as a translator for the US army 10 years ago – but the process is painfully slow. In the meantime, the family are left with no choice but to send Khatab out again to try his luck on the hazardous route to Europe. “I am worried about him, but it is the only chance we have,” Mr Talo says.
Most of the estimated half a million Yazidis in Iraq are now living in camps and unfinished homes in the Kurdistan region, and nearly all are desperate to flee Iraq, where they no longer feel safe.Most of the estimated half a million Yazidis in Iraq are now living in camps and unfinished homes in the Kurdistan region, and nearly all are desperate to flee Iraq, where they no longer feel safe.
“They are not even scared of dying because they know they have no future here,” says “Haso”, who asked to remain anonymous because of his work smuggling Yazidis to Europe. Money is obviously a motivation for him, but he claims helping the Yazidis to get safely out of Iraq is also a humanitarian act. He says 80 per cent of Yazidis want to leave, “but not all of them have enough money”.“They are not even scared of dying because they know they have no future here,” says “Haso”, who asked to remain anonymous because of his work smuggling Yazidis to Europe. Money is obviously a motivation for him, but he claims helping the Yazidis to get safely out of Iraq is also a humanitarian act. He says 80 per cent of Yazidis want to leave, “but not all of them have enough money”.
Haso’s network of smugglers is one of many taking Yazidi refugees to Germany, where there is already an established Yazidi community. The journey takes them via Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Austria, on foot and in vans, for about £5,200 per person. The price depends on the route and timing, and often fluctuates. The smuggler says his network had taken about 600 Yazidis to Europe in the past year, and thousands of others are thought to have made the journey.Haso’s network of smugglers is one of many taking Yazidi refugees to Germany, where there is already an established Yazidi community. The journey takes them via Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Austria, on foot and in vans, for about £5,200 per person. The price depends on the route and timing, and often fluctuates. The smuggler says his network had taken about 600 Yazidis to Europe in the past year, and thousands of others are thought to have made the journey.
Displaced people from the minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to the Isis in Sinjar town, walk towards the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Sinjar mountain, near the Syrian border town of Elierbeh of Al-Hasakah Governorate
Displaced people from the minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to the Isis in Sinjar town, walk towards the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Sinjar mountain, near the Syrian border town of Elierbeh of Al-Hasakah Governorate
Displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community settle at a camp at Derike, Syria. In the camps here, Iraqi refugees have new heroes: Syrian Kurdish fighters who battled militants to carve an escape route to tens of thousands trapped on a mountaintop
A pilot based at RAF Marham entering a Tornado GR4 prior to taking off for the reconnaissance mission over Iraq. Several RAF Tornado jets set off from RAF Marham in Norfolk this afternoon to travel to a "pre-position", from where they will fly to northern Iraq to provide improved surveillance of the situation on the ground. The jets, fitted with Litening III targeting and surveillance pods, will be able to fly over the crisis area to provide intelligence and help with the delivery of humanitarian aid
A British Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado GR4 aircraft equipped with the Litening III pod from RAF Marham, eastern England, on their arrival at RAF Akrotiri Cyprus for their reconnaissance mission over Iraq
Aid inside a Royal Air Force (RAF) Hercules C130 J aircraft before being airdropped to civilians in Iraq
A Royal Air Force (RAF) Hercules C130 J military transport plane at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Britain made a third round of airdrops of supplies to aid refugees stranded on a mountain in northern Iraq, officials said, as Tornado fighters arrived at an RAF base in Cyprus preparing to provide surveillance support for the humanitarian effort
Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado GR4 aircraft, flown in from Britain, stand on the tarmac at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus
A displaced man helps a woman, both from the minority Yazidi sect fleeing violence from forces loyal to the Isis in Sinjar town, as they make their way towards the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Sinjar mountain, near the Syrian border town of Elierbeh of Al-Hasakah Governorate
Iraqis including Turkmen, Shabaks, Kurds, Yezidis and Christians, fleeing from assaults of army groups led by Isis, take shelter at Bahirka Camp in Arbil
Displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community look for clothes to wear among items provided by a charity organization at the Nowruz camp in Derike, Syria
Displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community gather for food at the Nowruz camp in Derike, Syria
Displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community gather for food at the Nowruz camp in Derike, Syria
Syrian Kurdish Peshmerga fighters take a sick Iraqi Yazidi woman to the clinic at Nowruz camp in Derike, Syria
Sick displaced Iraqis from the Yazidi community wait for treatment at a clinic at Nowruz camp in Derike, Syria
There are more than three million Iraqis displaced by war across the country and the current exodus is not confined to Yazidis. In cafés, restaurants and on street corners, Iraqis from myriad backgrounds cite security fears, economic woes, failing governance and poor infrastructure as reasons for their departure.There are more than three million Iraqis displaced by war across the country and the current exodus is not confined to Yazidis. In cafés, restaurants and on street corners, Iraqis from myriad backgrounds cite security fears, economic woes, failing governance and poor infrastructure as reasons for their departure.
But the persecution of the Yazidis by Isis is particularly acute. The UN said crimes committed by Isis against the Yazidis “strongly suggest” a genocide may have taken place. One after-effect of the destruction of Yazidi towns and villages, the killings and systematic use of rape against members of the religion, is a sense of distrust towards all Muslims in Iraq.But the persecution of the Yazidis by Isis is particularly acute. The UN said crimes committed by Isis against the Yazidis “strongly suggest” a genocide may have taken place. One after-effect of the destruction of Yazidi towns and villages, the killings and systematic use of rape against members of the religion, is a sense of distrust towards all Muslims in Iraq.
More than 9,000 Iraqi refugees arrived in Greece between January and August, nine times the figure for last year, a representative of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said, adding that these were official figures and the real numbers could be higher.More than 9,000 Iraqi refugees arrived in Greece between January and August, nine times the figure for last year, a representative of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said, adding that these were official figures and the real numbers could be higher.
In the city of Dohuk another smuggler, who asked to go by the name “Govan”, says the number of Yazidis leaving has increased. “They are selling everything they can – gold, cars – to try to get out,” says the 40-year-old, who also works as a taxi driver. Two of his children have already made the journey to Europe.In the city of Dohuk another smuggler, who asked to go by the name “Govan”, says the number of Yazidis leaving has increased. “They are selling everything they can – gold, cars – to try to get out,” says the 40-year-old, who also works as a taxi driver. Two of his children have already made the journey to Europe.
He explains that he sent Yazidis to Turkey in groups, where they were handed over to Turkish and Bulgarian smugglers for the rest of the journey. He receives payment from the family when the refugee arrives successfully, usually around £130-£195 per person.He explains that he sent Yazidis to Turkey in groups, where they were handed over to Turkish and Bulgarian smugglers for the rest of the journey. He receives payment from the family when the refugee arrives successfully, usually around £130-£195 per person.
Giving a glimpse of the life that awaits those making the perilous journey, Govan showed The IoS a picture of a recent Yazidi client, smiling and wearing a white apron in what the smuggler said was the kitchen of a restaurant in Cologne.Giving a glimpse of the life that awaits those making the perilous journey, Govan showed The IoS a picture of a recent Yazidi client, smiling and wearing a white apron in what the smuggler said was the kitchen of a restaurant in Cologne.
Haso said he also wants to leave for Europe. “From my birth in 1970 until now I have found nothing good in Iraq. We know there will be more violence and the economic situation is bad. I want to find a future for my children.”Haso said he also wants to leave for Europe. “From my birth in 1970 until now I have found nothing good in Iraq. We know there will be more violence and the economic situation is bad. I want to find a future for my children.”
As a Yazidi he says he feels like a second-class citizen in Iraq. “We suffer worse treatment for not being Muslim. In the government offices, my documents will be later than a Muslim guy’s. I opened a shop and Muslims don’t want to shop there because they say we are unbelievers.”As a Yazidi he says he feels like a second-class citizen in Iraq. “We suffer worse treatment for not being Muslim. In the government offices, my documents will be later than a Muslim guy’s. I opened a shop and Muslims don’t want to shop there because they say we are unbelievers.”
George Ashwor, 18, has already made the perilous journey to Germany. A Yazidi from Khanasoor, he escaped Isis with his family as the militants attacked the base of Mount Sinjar in August last year, and spoke to The IoS from the school he is staying in near Dusseldorf.George Ashwor, 18, has already made the perilous journey to Germany. A Yazidi from Khanasoor, he escaped Isis with his family as the militants attacked the base of Mount Sinjar in August last year, and spoke to The IoS from the school he is staying in near Dusseldorf.
He described his journey, which cost £5,530 in smugglers’ fees. In July, along with a group of 84 other refugees, mostly Syrian Kurds and Yazidis, he walked for 13 hours and spent the rest of the journey squeezed into cars and vans.He described his journey, which cost £5,530 in smugglers’ fees. In July, along with a group of 84 other refugees, mostly Syrian Kurds and Yazidis, he walked for 13 hours and spent the rest of the journey squeezed into cars and vans.
“We were so tired, and the worst thing was they put us and about 50 people in one van. We were in the container of an ice cream truck for seven to 12 hours at a time. It was so hot and difficult to breathe.”“We were so tired, and the worst thing was they put us and about 50 people in one van. We were in the container of an ice cream truck for seven to 12 hours at a time. It was so hot and difficult to breathe.”
For now he is happy to be in Germany, where his dreams of studying are looking ever closer. “I hope they will give me asylum. I will be so grateful,” he says.For now he is happy to be in Germany, where his dreams of studying are looking ever closer. “I hope they will give me asylum. I will be so grateful,” he says.
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