Refugees travel from Iran to Turkey on an adventurous journey | Middle East News

The border crossing on the 540 km (335 mi) mountainous border between Turkey and Iran is protected by a concrete wall, which is a 140 km (87 mi) barbed wire barrier.

But this does not prevent thousands of young people from fleeing Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran every year, fleeing conflict, violence and despair, and seeking a better life.

According to the Directorate General of Immigration Management of the Turkish Ministry of Interior, as of June 16 this year, about 53,176 migrants have been intercepted. This number is half of the 122,302 people registered last year, a sharp drop from the 454,662 immigrants stopped in 2019.

In the past 10 years, Turkey has become one of the most important countries for immigrants to Europe.

Most immigrants fled their country for similar reasons.

For Afghans and Pakistanis, war and violence forced them to leave their homes.

For Iranians, they embarked on the road to Turkey — their main gateway to Europe — dreaming of better economic opportunities and fleeing the oppressive government in Tehran.

But this route is fraught with dangers and risks, and many people have joined the growing list of victims of human trafficking in the region.