March 2024
PROVIDING ASSISTANCE AND LEGAL SUPPORT TO VULNERABLE MIGRANTS IN TÜRKIYE (PALS II) Project Summary Foundation Caritas Luxembourg (FCL) and Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization (ASAM) are addressing protection needs and facilitating access to available services for vulnerable asylum seekers and migrants, including unregistered and undocumented migrants through the PALS project.
Map 1: PALS Implementation provinces: Ankara, Antalya, Balıkesir, İstanbul, İzmir, Van. EQR Response in Hatay, Project coordination in Ankara.
NEWSLETTER Project Update– Increasing controls.
Updates from Van – Cases of frostbite and deaths
In recent months, authorities have increased their controls on irregular refugees or migrants, who have reduced their movements through fear of arrest and deportation.
Irregular crossings, in groups of 100 to 300 people, continue on the Eastern borders especially in less hilly terrains but where harsh conditions prevail in the winter with snow and blizzards. By crossing in these conditions, people risk getting frostbite, leading to loss of limb, and even loss of life.
The mobile migration points, initiated in Istanbul as a pilot scheme by the MoI, have now been implemented in Izmir and other cities and constitute a challenge for protection case management as migrants restrict their movements. Migration points are mobile stations set up to check the documents of people in the streets, if individuals are found to be in violation of the law, they are transferred to removal centers. Identity checks are also performed increasingly randomly in many places, including in areas like public transport hubs and neighborhoods where migrants live. Controls also take place in houses where smugglers are suspected of housing irregular migrants before transporting them to the border provinces. Refugees who are not in their province of registration, whose residence permits have expired or who are without ID cards are arrested – men are taken to removal centers, while women and children are often released. In Istanbul and Izmir, PALS teams have expanded their outreach activities through collaborations with local organizations.
Since December, twelve cases of frostbite-induced deaths have been identified and support for burial has been provided to seven families of deceased migrants by the project team. This support covers costs such as interpretation, assistance for forensic medicine, prosecution and transfer of the body to their country of origin or provides psychological support or e-vouchers for food or clothing. Individuals in need of treatment for frostbite were assisted in accessing treatment, some injured people were prevented from being pushed back, the beneficiaries were visited in the hospital, interpretation assistance was provided for their communication with health workers and medical assistance was provided to individuals in need of medical supplies. E-voucher assistance was provided to meet their clothing and food needs during the treatment process.
Developing collaborations İstanbul: PALS team continues to develop collaborations with local associations in order increase access to irregular migrants. The Mavi Kalem Association is one of these, located in the Esenyurt district 35 km northeast of PALS’ Istanbul office. Esenyurt district hosts the largest migrant population in Istanbul province, offering job opportunities and low-cost accommodation. Mavi Kalem focuses primarily on vulnerable women and disabled migrants and received many requests for legal assistance. PALS lawyers, social workers and interpreters provide counselling and assistance to their beneficiaries once per week.
Donors: EC-Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg