A walk along a beach on the Southern shores of the Bodrum peninsula is a thought provoking activity these days. We no longer see refugees in Bodrum but their presence is revealed by the shoes, clothing and rubber dinghies washed up on a few beaches. I don't know when these marble sculptures were placed on the sand but they are extremely unsettling as they face Europe, just a few miles away. Boats made of marble and looking like stone coffins.
I was in Greece recently and was upset to hear educated Athenians hold forth on how the Turks are herding refugees into boats to be rid of them. All the time I listened I was mentally battling the urge to put them straight and thus declare my Turkish allegiance. When I heard for the fifth time that Turks were doing nothing to stem the flow and just wanted the EU money, I threw in the towel and gave them the facts. Road blocks are active all the time to stop refugees reaching the coast. The Coastguard boats are out every night and bring back 100s of men women and children every week. In Bodrum alone sometimes 300 are brought back in one night and every one is then seen by the local police and a doctor. Local captains have formed their own association to patrol the coast and rescue those in danger. The cost of this is borne locally. Human rights lawyers hand out pamphlets telling the Syrian refugees what they are entitled to in Turkey (free health care, free pharmaceuticals, free education and Turkish lessons as long as they register in a designated municipality) and give out telephone numbers where help can be found. Local volunteers provide dry clothes, food, sanitary goods and toys but despite this the majority of families still risk the crossing because hope lives in Europe not in a Turkish refugee camp. Some try again and again despite nearly drowning on a previous trip. And the EU hasn't handed over the money.
It seems that this disaster is becoming an exercise in shifting the blame while those that sell the weapons and create the power vacuums are sitting safe and sound.
Bodrum Humanity Association Offering help to all those in need in the Bodrum area.
Excellent post Annie. Very well said xx
ReplyDeleteB to B, Stop the war in Syria. It's as plain as that, but that would mean that Americans and Europeans would have to confront their governments and demand that they reject their policy of 'regime change' that has turned Syria into a hell hole that cannot support human life. My heart goes out to Greece, though. Imagine the indignity of being unjustly impoverished to pay back others' debts to the big banks of Europe and at the same time, being forced to take on tens of thousands of refugees of a war for which your country is not responsible.
ReplyDeleteI so appreciate yours (and Ayak's) words on the terrible situation that Europe faces. Here in southern Spain, it really seems a long way away and certainly is only on the news in fleeting moments. The images you share here are very arresting and shocking.
ReplyDeleteI simply cannot imagine how it must be for the refugees. It is good to hear that such humanitarian effort is being made by Turkey and the people of your town. I'm struggling now to find any appropriate words but I echo Ayak's in saying 'Well said". Axxx
Very well done for tackling such ignorance and misinformation head-on, Annie. Turkey has accepted and is caring for enormous numbers of refugees, but can't be held responsible for those who are determined to move on into Europe.
ReplyDeleteReally 'well said' Annie, there is so much misinformation out there, and blaming without all the facts, so important that others know just some of the efforts that are going on here in Turkey
ReplyDeleteWell said, Annie.
ReplyDelete. . there is nothing more to add to what Mark and Jolee have stated very clearly above - it is the 'West', FUKUS/NATO and its regional allies who are the problem.
ReplyDelete..and always will be.
DeleteNice work. I would just add that the reasons refugees don't want to stay in Turkey, but would rather head to Europe are the same reasons that Turks have. (As I was told one illegal migrant who had been working in Turkey said, "In Europe there's bread and no beatings; in Turkey there's beatings and no bread."
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining in with the comments DSD. Turkey is too much like the countries the refugees are fleeing.
DeleteAgreed, well said, Annie. The whole refugee situation is upsetting as well as the current politics happening in the U.S. Help us all if Trump is left to deal with international affairs! :( I think I'll just stay abroad forever!
ReplyDeleteHe can't win, can he !!!
DeleteThank you for such a clear statement of fact.
ReplyDeleteWhatever we think of Erdogan,Turkey is showing the world how to cope with such a disaster-but the world's press don't want to know.
Any more than they want to tell us why this disaster came about...regime change to control an oil pipeline outlet.
Now a deal is being cut with the EU I fear it will give Turkey licence to treat refugees badly. How else will they keep them from the coast.
DeleteWell said Annie, thank you so much for thism hats off to Bodrum Humanity Association too x
ReplyDeleteHow will Turkey cope if all the non Syrian refugees are sent back?
DeleteAppreciating very much your words, Annie! I think, too - the europaen countries and the US continuing playing their dark black game ... :-(
ReplyDeletethes marble boats on the beach .. who did them??? they tell all about the refugee situation.
Thanks for commenting Bettina. The boats are in the Termera Resort in Aspat. There was no one to ask about who made them so I'll go back when the resort is open.
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