Ruined slums turn into dormitories for migrants in İzmir

Mustafa Oğuz / İZMİR – Doğan News Agency

DHA Photos

In Basmane, a district of İzmir where refugees from Iraq, Somalia and mostly Syria reside, ruined houses have turned into cheap dormitories for migrants who flocked to the city in attempt to escape to Europe and left on the streets due to lack of accommodation.


The daily price of a room has risen from 10-15 liras to around 40 liras, even for old İzmir houses where doors and windows have been torn down, thanks to the rising demand in the area.


Harsh conditions in unlicensed slums 

İzmir residents have severely criticized letting houses in inhuman conditions to migrants without any license and urged officials to take measures.

Meanwhile, mosque courtyards are also hosting migrants without a home. Groups of migrants stay in the district for a while and leave for their “journey of hope” towards European countries, while other groups arrive and replace them.


Foreign journalists flock to İzmir

After a deadly migrant boat disaster that left dozens killed and a picture of a toddler drowned and washed ashore a Bodrum coast, foreign journalists are flocking to Basmane to continue first hand coverage of the refugee crisis.

International journalists conduct interviews especially with women and children migrants who crave to cross border gates and reach Europe.