Syrians Stranded in Turkey Have No Time for EU's Refugee Deal
- Many migrants unaware of Brussels pact to stop refugee flow
- Desperation of those stranded for years will test agreement
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On the day the Aegean migrant passage to Greece was formally shut, refugees in a neighborhood of a Turkish port city were steadfast in their willingness to defy the wheeling and dealing of politicians in Brussels and Ankara and risk all for a new life.
Izmir’s Basmane district is home to Syrian school teachers, teenagers and battle-scarred veterans of a five-year war as well as the smugglers and businessmen who have carved out a living processing those seeking passage to Europe. Many of the would-be-migrants were unaware of the deal sealed between Turkish and European leaders on Friday, and when informed, said they didn’t care.