Human traffickers keep migrants in empty barns in Turkey's Van

Human traffickers who smuggle migrants into Turkey through the eastern border keep them in empty barns or unfurnished homes in the province of Van, Mesopotamia Agency reported on June 24. The migrants are left to fend for themselves without food or water for days before moving westward.

Thursday June 24 2021 01:50 pm

Picture taken from Mesopotamia Agency.

Duvar English

Migrants brought into Turkey by human traffickers are often condemned to reside in empty barns or unfurnished homes in the eastern province of Van before they can travel westward, Mesopotamia Agency reported on June 24.

Migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran are often smuggled into Turkey at the province's districts adjacent to the border crossing, namely Çaldıran, Özalp, Saray and Başkale districts.

Dozens of migrants documented by Mesopotamia Agency were left to fend for themselves in empty barns without food or water before being transported across Lake Van to Tatvan.

The only food offered to the migrants by the human traffickers is bread, and a loaf is sold at a shocking 10 Turkish Liras, locals reported.

The migrants are often driven into Van on buses, reportedly with no effort to hide the illegal smuggling on the part of the human traffickers.

Van is often home to migration tragedies, most recently witnessing a migrants' boat capsize in Lake Van, where dozens were killed.