Ghost Ships: Turkey Becomes Springboard for Syrians Heading to Europe
By SPIEGEL Staff
Turkey has become a hub for human traffickers, with freighters picking up Syrians in the port city and smuggling them on to Europe. It's a lucrative business built on the hardships of others.
The short man told Sherko that he always had to be prepared. That's why Sherko is now sitting on the bed in his fluorescent-lit hotel room in Mersin, a port city on the southern coast of Turkey. He has packed the backpack next to him with the items he needs for his trip to freedom: 10 Snickers bars, canned tuna fish, perfume, a razor, dried figs, dental floss and a sponge for cleaning his shoes.
More:Turkish City Becomes Important Hub for Syrian Refugees - SPIEGEL ONLINE