Enab Baladi – Ras al-Ain
The forty-something-year-old Mustafa Suleiman has failed more than seven times to cross from Tal Abyad into Turkey via smuggling routes, with law enforcement apprehending him each time and deporting him back to Syria.
Suleiman sought employment in Tal Abyad but found only unstable day labor, which did not meet the needs of his family of six.
With no options left, the man resorted to heading to Lebanon through irregular means (smuggling) to pay off his debts, which have accumulated to 40 million Syrian pounds (around 3,650 USD) over the past five years, according to what he told Enab Baladi.
He mentioned that he contacted a smuggler to take him to Deir Ezzor, from where he would continue to Homs, and then to Lebanon via smuggling routes.
Suleiman is one of many in Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad who find themselves forced to head toward Lebanon through smuggling pathways in search of work, especially after facing difficulties crossing into Turkey.
These individuals undertake these irregular journeys despite the serious risks involved, such as arrest and extortion by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) during their passage through areas under their control in al-Hasakah and Raqqa.
Once a difficult and undesirable destination, Lebanon has been reconsidered as a place to seek work opportunities due to the downfall of the previous Syrian regime and the dismantling of its military checkpoints, despite the dangers of the journey.
Closure towards Turkey pushing people to Lebanon
Accumulating debts burdened Ezzeddin al-Shukri (39) from Ras al-Ain due to agricultural losses over the past five years, resulting in a total debt nearing 7,000 USD (around 77.5 million Syrian pounds).
Al-Shukri could not cross into Turkey due to increased security measures along the Turkish border imposed by Turkish forces, preventing him from traveling to work there and settle his debts.
He told Enab Baladi that he hoped to find a job opportunity in Turkey to improve his financial situation, but the imposed restrictions made it impossible.
He added that he plans to travel to Lebanon and search for work opportunities to pay off his debts, having contacted a smuggler to take him to Beirut this coming April for a fee of 650 USD.
Available jobs in Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain are primarily limited to daily labor, mostly in agriculture or sheep herding, with daily wages rarely exceeding 100,000 Syrian pounds (about 9 USD).
Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad predominantly rely on agriculture, limiting job diversification. Additionally, weak infrastructure and services, along with small urban areas, hinder the cities’ ability to attract investments, further aggravated by the closure of smuggling routes into Turkey.
Coordination of smuggling operations
Dozens of individuals arrive in Lebanon daily through smuggling routes, coordinated in advance with traffickers who transport them from one area to another until their arrival in Beirut.
A smuggling network operator in Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad stated to Enab Baladi that dozens come to him daily seeking to reach Lebanon in search of job opportunities.
He explained that the operation is not easy and requires prior coordination and organization, with the key aspects being ensuring their crossing through areas controlled by the SDF and connecting them with individuals working with the network to continue their journey to Lebanon.
He noted that the cost of crossing has decreased compared to previous times when the Assad regime imposed fees of up to 150 USD per person, raising smuggling costs to around 1,000 USD per individual.
He mentioned that between 10 and 20 people arrive daily from Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain to Lebanon, with current costs ranging between 600 and 650 USD, most of which is allocated to securing their passage through the SDF-controlled areas and ensuring their exemption from arrest.
Limited capabilities in the face of large needs
The spokesman for the local council in Ras al-Ain, Ziad Maliki, told Enab Baladi that the council has worked over the past five years to provide job opportunities for residents within its available means.
He stated that the council has provided around 800 jobs in the service and administration sectors, alongside 1,300 positions in education, while exceeding 1,000 personnel in the civil police.
Maliki added that, in the absence of supportive organizations in the region, the council has taken it upon itself to support low-income individuals and the most impoverished groups within its available capabilities, providing monthly financial assistance to about 100 orphans and individuals with disabilities, in addition to a grant of 575,000 Syrian pounds allocated to 1,500 residents of the rural areas of Ras al-Ain (the amount was paid in Turkish lira and is equivalent to 2,000 Turkish lira).
He emphasized that the council’s capabilities are limited, confirming that the complete absence of organizations in the region increases the difficulty of responding to residents’ needs.
Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad are located adjacent to the Turkish border and are controlled by the Syrian government, surrounded by conflict fronts with the SDF, making the Turkish border their only outlet to the outside world.
Lebanon: A new destination for workers from Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad Enab Baladi.
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