Home > Photo Essays > Photo Essays 2021 > All or Nothing - The Long Walk to a Future in Turkey
All or Nothing - The Long Walk to a Future in Turkey
Photographer: Sedat Suna
The crossings along the mountainous 540 kilometer-border between Turkey and Iran are protected by a concrete wall, a barbed-wire-topped barrier that stretches for 140 kilometers but which does little to stop thousands of mostly young people fleeing from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran every year to leave conflict, violence, and despair behind in search for a better life. With no prospects of a decent future at home, they are forced to leap into the unknown and gamble on their quest for a dream that for many turns out to be a nightmare.
Ahmed and his six friends have been walking for 28 days. They left Afghanistan looking for a future in Europe - today, they find themselves in the middle of an almost deserted area near the Iran-Turkey border. But they are already on Turkish soil. "I am a Turkmen from Afghanistan. A month ago, we started our journey in Afghanistan, coming through Iran and from there to Turkey. I want to go to Ankara. I will work there. I will send money to my hometown," Ahmed tells epa. "Mom and Dad need money. There is no job there, so we have to come here."
Irregular migrants in some cases not recognized refugees risk their lives in the hopes of finding a job in the Turkish cities of Istanbul, Ankara, Afyon, İzmir, Balikesir, and eventually mainland Europe.
According to the Turkish Ministry of Interior General Directorate of Migration Management, some 53,176 migrants have been stopped so far this year until 16 June. The figure is half of the 122,302 registered last year and a major drop from the 454,662 migrants stopped in 2019.
Most of the migrants flee their countries for similar reasons. For Afghans and Pakistanis, war and violence force them from their homelands. For Iranians, they hit the road to Turkey - their main access point to Europe - dreaming of better economic opportunities and escaping the oppressive regime in Tehran. But the route is fraught with peril and risk, with many joining the growing list of victims of human trafficking in the region.
Nasrollah Movahedpour, who was born in Mashhad, northeast Iran, arrived in Turkey four years ago after fleeing his native country. He says that he left after the authorities closed his fifth store. The pain and frustration led him to assault a police officer.
He fled, and made a new life in Van, the first city irregular migrants and refugees come to when they make it onto Turkish soil after crossing from Iran. But very few remain there, as for most the promised land lies much farther west.
In the last 10 years, Turkey has become one of the most important countries on the migrants' route to Europe. The country is home to one of the largest refugee populations in the world, especially Syrians. As of 28 April 2021, the number of registered Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey increased by 4,396 compared to the previous month, bringing the total to 3.6 million. Nearly half of them are minors.
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) states that as of 2019, there were 5,678,800 refugees and irregular migrants in Turkey.
VAN
In the city of Van, near the Turkish-Iranian border, human trafficking is barely concealed. Refugees pay between 600 to 1,000 US dollars each to cross, depending on the security situation at the border.
According to smugglers epa spoke to, migrants arrive at the Turkish border after walking in rugged Iranian mountains for days. They get into the country through the districts of Ozalp and Baskale and are kept in safehouses in Van for days.
There, they wait for the contact. If they are lucky they will find shelter under bridges, abandoned shepherds' houses, or a barn. If not, they must sleep out in the open. Some travel in groups of five, others in 10s. The route and tensions will inevitably force the groups to split. A telephone will be the only form of contact with the smugglers throughout the journey.
Lake Van is a safer route, away from the checkpoints on the highways. The traffickers use boats powered by extra engines to dodge the coast guard.
On the western side of the lake, the migrants are taken to the mountainous regions of Tatvan district in Bitlis by boat after midnight or early in the morning. There, again, they wait.
In June last year, around 100 people, according to the Governor of Van, died when a boat sank in Lake Van.
The bodies of these refugees have still not been recovered. They are not the only ones to never be found again by their relatives. In the cemetery of the "unidentified" in Van, hundreds of gravestones are marked with country names and numbers. These are the only traces of the lives of those buried beneath.
For the survivors who have made it this far, the next stop is Diyarbakir, the largest city in southeastern Turkey and the honorary capital of the Kurds. There, migrants and refugees wait for days for someone to take them in a bus, living off the charity and goodwill of the locals.
Most of them will have to make it on their own beyond this point - once they realize they have been abandoned by smugglers who have stopped picking up their phones.

A Turkish-Iranian border guard tower is seen near Gurbulak Border gate in Dogubeyazit district in Agri city, eastern province of Turkey, at the Iranian border, 04 June 2021. The crossings along the nearly-600 km border between Turkey and Iran are protected by a 144 km concrete wall, a barbed-wire-topped barrier that still cannot stop hundreds of youngsters fleeing from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran every year to leave conflict, violence, and despair behind in search for a better life.
According to the Turkish Ministry of Interior General Directorate of Migration Management, until 16 June 2021, 53,176 illegal immigrants had been captured this year. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) states that as of 2019, there were 5,678,800 refugees and illegal migrants in Turkey. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A shepherd and her sheep walk in front of a security wall that was built by the government to prevent illegal crossings near Gurbulak Border gate in Dogubeyazit district in Agri city, eastern province of Turkey, at the Iranian border, 04 June 2021. The crossings along the nearly-600 km border between Turkey and Iran are protected by a 144 km concrete wall, a barbed-wire-topped barrier that still cannot stop hundreds of youngsters fleeing from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran every year to leave conflict, violence, and despair behind in search for a better life. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A Turkish coast guard on patrol with their boat on Van Lake, in Van city, eastern province of Turkey, 04 June 2021. Smugglers use boats powered by extra engines to dodge the coast guards. The lake is a safer pass away from the checkpoints on the highways. Immigrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran are taken to the mountainous regions of the Tatvan district of Bitlis by boat after midnight or early in the morning, where they will wait.
In June last year, around one hundred people, according to the Governor of Van, died when a boat sank in Lake Van. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A young Afghan man walks next to a railway as they come from Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border near Tatvan district in Bitlis city, eastern province of Turkey, 02 June 2021. Illegal immigrants and not recognized refugees wait for days until their smugglers transfer them to Diyarbakir city to reach western Turkey. The city of Van, on the Turkish-Iranian border, is one of the points at which human smuggling can be easily spotted. The cost to get into the country can go between 600 or 1,000 US dollars per person, depending on the security situation at the border. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

Ahmed (3-R) from Afghanistan and his friends walk on a highway as they come from Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border near Tatvan district in Bitlis city, eastern province of Turkey, 07 June 2021. 'I am a Turkmen from Afghanistan. A month ago, we started our journey in Afghanistan through Iran and from there to Turkey. I want to go to Ankara. I will work there. I will send money to my hometown,' Ahmed says to EPA. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A group of Afghans and Iranians rest near a former oil refinery wall as they come from Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border near Tatvan district in Bitlis city eastern province of Turkey, 02 June 2021. Refugees wait three days for their smugglers to transfer them to Diyarbakir city to reach western Turkey. The city of Van, on the Turkish-Iranian border, is one of the points at which human smuggling can be easily spotted. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

An Iranian man shaves in front of a picture of the Al-Aqsa Mosque near a train station in Bitlis, eastern Turkey, 02 June 2021. The city of Van, on the Turkish-Iranian border, is one of the points at which human smuggling can be easily spotted. They wait for the smugglers for days, taking shelter where they can and trying to eat and rest. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

Two Afghans sleep in the open next to a highway near Tatvan district in Bitlis city, eastern province of Turkey, 02 June 2021, after two days without food waiting for smugglers to take them to Diyarbakir. The city of Van, on the Turkish-Iranian border, is one of the points at which human smuggling can be easily spotted. People from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran split into groups, and some walk on their own. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A group of Afghans run for food next to the railway near Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border in Tatvan district in Bitlis city, eastern province of Turkey, 08 June 2021. People wait for days for their smugglers to transfer them to Diyarbakir city to reach western Turkey.
Dozens of illegal immigrants and non-recognized refugees wait by railroads and bridges in the area, waiting for a ring on their phones to continue on their journey. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A young Afghan man carries some bread near Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border in Tatvan district in Bitlis city, eastern province of Turkey, 08 June 2021. People entering illegally in Turkey wait for days for the smugglers to make contact.
The city of Van, on the Turkish-Iranian border, is one of the points at which human smuggling can be easily spotted. Smugglers charge between 600 or 1,000 US dollars per person, depending on the security situation at the border. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A group of people from different countries rest under a bridge near the railway in Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border near Tatvan district in Bitlis city, eastern province of Turkey, 02 June 2021. According to smugglers epa spoke to, migrants arrive at the Turkish border after many walking days in Iran. Afghans, Iranians, and Pakistanis enter Turkey through Ozalp and Baskale districts and are kept in secret houses or out in the open for days in Van. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A group of Afghans and Pakistanis rest under a bridge near the railway in Van city, Turkey, after crossing the Iran-Turkey border, 02 June 2021. People entering illegally in Turkey wait for days to be contacted by smugglers to be transferred to the next city. The wait is long and so is the uncertainty in their journey to the West. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A group of people rest next to a graffiti reading 'Smile and die' in Turkish under a bridge near a railway in Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border in the East of Turkey, 02 June 2021. The routes they take to dodge authorities are dangerous, and many will lose their lives on their way. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

Gravestones of people who died crossing the Turkish-Iranian border are seen at the 'unidentified' cemetery in Van city eastern province of Turkey, 31 May 2021.
In June last year around one hundred people, according to the Governor of Van, died when a boat sank in Lake Van.
The bodies of these refugees have not been recovered yet. They are not the only ones to never be found again by their relatives. In the cemetery of the 'unidentified' of Van, hundreds of gravestones will show only country names and numbers. Those are the only traces of the lives of those buried beneath. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

Gravestones of refugees who died crossing the Turkish-Iranian border stand at the 'unidentified' cemetery in Van city eastern province of Turkey, 31 May 2021. In the cemetery of the 'unidentified' of Van, hundreds of gravestones will show only country names and numbers; these are the only traces of the lives of those buried beneath. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

Two young men rest under a bridge near a railway as they come from Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border near Tatvan district in Bitlis city, eastern province of Turkey, 02 June 2021. The road and fatigue after tense weeks of walking make large groups split into small ones. Some decide to go on their own. A telephone will be the only way of contact with the smugglers throughout the way. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A young Afghan sleeps alone in an abandoned shepherd's house near Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border near Tatvan district in Bitlis city, eastern province of Turkey, 08 June 2021. The road and fatigue after tense weeks of walk make large groups split into small ones. Some decide to go on their own. A telephone will be the only way of contact with the smugglers throughout the way. They can wait for days until someone finally contacts them. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

An Afghan boy hides inside a sewer pipe made of concrete next to a railway near Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border, 02 June 2021. Illegal immigrants and non-recognized refugees wait for days for their smugglers to transfer them to Diyarbakir city to reach West Turkey. The city of Van, on the Turkish-Iranian border, is one of the points at which human smuggling can be easily spotted. Smugglers charge between 600 or 1,000 US dollars per person, depending on the security situation at the border. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

Afghans rest near the highway in Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border, 08 June 2021. The road and fatigue after tense weeks of walk make large groups split into small ones. Some decide to go on their own. A telephone will be the only way of contact with the smugglers throughout the way. If they are lucky, they will find shelter in bridges, abandoned shepherds' houses, or a barn. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A group of four people rest by the railway near Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border in Tatvan district, in the East of Turkey, 02 June 2021. People smuggled into the country wait for days until being contacted again to continue their route to the West through Diyarbakir city.
According to smugglers epa spoke to, migrants arrive at the Turkish border after many walking days in Iran. They get into the country through Ozalp and Baskale districts and are kept in secret houses for days in Van. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

An Afghan family rests in an abandoned shepherd's house near the Turkish city of Van after crossing the Iran-Turkey border, 08 June 2021. Afghans, Pakistanis, and Iranians with no prospects of a decent future at home are forced to leap into the unknown and gamble on their quest for a dream that for many turns out to be a nightmare. For many is an all-or-nothing bet. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A group of people rest at the bus station in Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border, 08 June 2021. People smuggled into Turkey wait for days until their smugglers transfer them to Diyarbakir city to reach West Turkey. The city of Van, on the Turkish-Iranian border, is one of the points at which human smuggling can be easily spotted. Smugglers charge between 600 or 1,000 US dollars per person, depending on the security situation at the border. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A group of Iranians rest at a local bus station in Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border, 08 June 2021.
Refugees wait for days until their smugglers transfer them to Diyarbakir city to reach western Turkey. The city of Van, on the Turkish-Iranian border, is one of the points at which human smuggling can be easily spotted. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A group of people wait under a railway pass near Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border near Tatvan district in Bitlis city, eastern province of Turkey, 02 June 2021. According to smugglers epa spoke to, migrants arrive at the Turkish border after walking in rugged Iranian mountains for days. They get into the country through the districts of Ozalp and Baskale and are kept in safehouses in Van for days. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A group of people sit around a bonfire near Van city, east Turkey, 02 June 2021. They crossed the Iran-Turkey border near Tatvan district in Bitlis, and they have to wait for days until their smugglers transfer them to Diyarbakir city to reach the west of the country. The city of Van, on the Turkish-Iranian border, is one of the points at which human smuggling can be easily spotted. Refugees pay between 600 or 1,000 US dollars per person, depending on the security situation at the border. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

People sleep in and next to an abandoned vehicle in Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey broder, 08 June 2021.
In Van, they wait for the contact. If they are lucky, they will find shelter under bridges, abandoned shepherds' houses, or a barn.
If not, they must sleep out in the open. Some people travel in groups of five, others in 10s. The route and tensions will inevitably force the groups to split. A telephone will be the only form of contact with the smugglers throughout the journey. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A group of people smuggled into Turkey rest in an abandoned shepherd's house near Van city, east Turkey, 02 June 2021. Illegal immigrants and non-recognized refugees will wait for the contact. If they are lucky, they will find shelter under bridges, abandoned shepherds' houses, or a barn. If not, they must sleep out in the open. Some people travel in groups of five, others in 10s. The route and tensions will inevitably force the groups to split. A telephone will be the only form of contact with the smugglers throughout the journey. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A group of people rest under a bridge near a railway in the Turkish city of Van after crossing the Iran-Turkey border, 02 June 2021. People smuggled into the country wait for days to be transferred by smugglers to Diyarbakir city to reach west Turkey. The city of Van, on the Turkish-Iranian border, is one of the points at which human smuggling can be easily spotted. Smugglers charge between 600 or 1,000 US dollars per person, depending on the security situation at the border. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

A group of people walk at sunset next to a railway in Van city after crossing the Iran-Turkey border, 08 June 2021.
Most of the migrants flee their countries for similar reasons. For Afghans and Pakistanis, war and violence force them from their homelands. For Iranians, they hit the road to Turkey - their main access point to Europe - dreaming of better economic opportunities and escaping the oppressive regime in Tehran. But the route is fraught with peril and risk, with many joining the growing list of victims of human trafficking in the region. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

An Afghan girl holds her food in Diyarbakir, Turkey, 14 June 2021, next to a line of people smuggled into the country in Diyarbakir, around 900 kilometers east of Ankara. Diyarbakir is the largest city in the southeastern region of Turkey and the honorary capital of the Kurds.
In a way, the city is the main distribution center for non-recognized refugees and illegal immigrants. There they wait for days for someone to take them on a bus, living off the charity and the goodwill of neighbors. Most of them will have to continue on their own beyond this point; they will do once they realized they have been abandoned by smugglers who have stopped answering their phone calls. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

People wait in line for food in Diyarbakir, around 900 kilometers east of Ankara, Turkey, 14 June 2021. Diyarbakir is the largest city in the southeastern region of Turkey and the honorary capital of the Kurds. In a way, the city is the main connection center for non-recognized refugees and illegal immigrants on their way to the west. There they wait for days for someone to take them on a bus, they will rely on charity and the goodwill of neighbors. Most of them will have to continue on their own beyond this point; they will do once they realized they have been left behind by smugglers who don’t answer their phones anymore. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

People wait for food as they arrive in Diyarbakir from the Turkish-Iran border near an intercity bus station in Diyarbakir, Turkey, 14 June 2021. Diyarbakir, around 900 kilometers east Ankara, is the largest city in the southeastern region of Turkey and the honorary capital of the Kurds.
There, people smuggled into the country wait for days for someone to take them on a bus. They will depend and rely on the charity and the goodwill of neighbors.
Most of them will have to make it on their own beyond this point; they will do once they realized they have been abandoned by smugglers who don’t answer their phones anymore. EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

Two young men fight for bread near an intercity bus station in Diyarbakir, Turkey, 12 June 2021. In Diyarbakir, around 900 kilometers to the east of Ankara, people smuggled into Turkey wait for someone to take them on a bus, living off the charity and the goodwill of neighbors.
Most of them will have to make it on their own beyond this point; they will do once they realized they have been abandoned EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA