As soon as Syrians enter a dark room, the eyes start on their own to search for any source of light that satisfies her desire, even if it is a small hole that quenches her thirst, this is the case of some Syrians who saw in the Iraqi city of Erbil the small hole of light that breaks the darkness of their country.
Erbil, located in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, is only a temporary stop for most travelers with the intention of working there, for three important reasons, the first of which is that the price of a tourist visa and residence there is cheap compared to others. The price of the visa with annual residency amounts to only 700 US dollars, and its issuance is very fast, unlike the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, whose price for a one-year visa is about 2000 dollars, with the delay in granting it as a result of the huge concentration of Syrians in it.
As for the second reason, it is the important geographical location of the region, but not as we learned previously in the books of geography, as it is not a link between the continents and has no sea outlets, but it has important borders that oversee Turkey and the rest of the Iraqi provinces, which facilitates the process of escaping from it to Baghdad or Turkey.
The last reason for the fact that this region is a temporary station is the large number of Syrian workers, which caused a decrease in labor wages, as the monthly salary of the Syrian worker reaches only $250.
smuggling from Erbil
With 450 dollars, a Syrian can obtain a monthly visa, in addition to a plane ticket from Damascus to Erbil, and then either work with a low salary in Erbil or choose a new destination to escape, some choose Turkey and others prefer to flee to Baghdad.
In the event of a decision to flee to Baghdad, there are specialized smugglers who transport three people from Erbil to Baghdad for a sum of up to $300 per person.
Once at Erbil airport, the person wishing to escape goes to a hotel to settle until the smuggler gives him the exact date of the move, after agreeing on the price.
The first Kurdish checkpoint is located in the “Altun Kobro” area, which is the link between the Kirkuk governorate and the region. However, it is possible to pass through a Kurdish border guard point easily without the need to present any document proving your identity, but this does not mean the dread and fear is gone.
After passing the first point, it is followed by the most dangerous security point, which is stationed at the entrance to Kirkuk governorate, and here it is necessary to show all personal documents, and any person who holds the residency of the Kurdistan Region and is not an Iraqi is considered illegal, and is subject to imprisonment and deportation outside the country, so the departure of Syrians from Erbil is a matter Desirable for the region, unlike Baghdad, which suffers from a large number of foreign workers and is keen to prevent illegal immigration to it.
In Baghdad
After passing dozens of security barriers and arriving in Baghdad, the journey of searching for work and safety begins, with an attempt to obtain residency within the capital, because your presence is considered illegal, and here offers and scams begin to bombard you. Obtaining residency is only done through two methods; The first is through the Iraqi Investment Commission through a work contract, or by marrying an Iraqi woman.
Working in Baghdad with a salary of $400 per month, and under the protection of the employer, is considered as stability for the Syrian worker, especially since the treatment of Iraqis in all governorates with Syrians is different from treatment in the region.
The Iraqi people of all sects deal with kindness and return the favor with the Syrians.
Iraq may seem an undesirable country for many, especially since the people of the country are victims of wars as well, and they themselves are constantly trying to escape abroad, but as it is said, “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” In the current situation, Iraq remains a better haven than Syria’s extreme poverty. Despite the difficult economic conditions prevailing in it.
Hashtag – Manhal Al Sagheer
To receive notification of the most important news and urgent matters, join our telegram channel through the link