BALKANS TRANSIT
If you ever travel to Kos, the Greek Island where Hippocrates was born, you may navigate across its inlet to visit the nearby Turkish land. It would only cost you € 20. But Ahmad and his wife Jihan paid € 3000 to go across the other way, with their children. That was the price for migrants when they entered Europe in 2015.
The Syrian couple lived in Yarmuk, a Palestinian refugee camp turned-burstling city in the suburbs of Damascus. Ahmad had several small businesses, including a shoe shop, and Jihan was a translator. When the syrian regime bombed their neighborhood, the family ran away, and never came back. Ahmad refused to do the military service and decided to go into exile with his family.
I was far from grasping that they would be among the first of about 600000 migrants to enter Europe in 2015. It took them a month to go across 4000 km, eight borders, and nine countries to reach Sweden. There, they got caught into the limbo of wait, where their painful memories interwinded with the incertainty of their future. Ahmad and Jihan are at the begenning of a life-long trip: a life to rebuild.
More than 600.000 migrants entered Greece in 2015 from Turkey. Most of them crossed the sea on overcrowded zodiacs and dinghies.
Kos Island, June 7, 1015.
Syria was the most common country of origin. These Syrian parents, travelling with their 4 month-old baby, where rescued at sea by the Greek coast-guards.
Kos port, Greece. May 26, 2015.
Ahmad and Jihan reached Europe with their 2 children and their niece on the first day of summer. It cost them 3500€ from Turkey.
Kos port, Greece. June 26, 2015.
Ten days later, the family received a 1-month greek residence permit. They can start their journey across Europe.
Athens, July 3, 2015.
"In our old Syria, I believed that travelling was the worst idea ever because we had a blessed country."
Ahmad
Jihan and her group are waiting for a smuggler.
Athens, Greece, July 3, 2015.
"My life fits into one bag. I can't stand it anymore."
Jihan
The family spends their first night outside in a bus station. They are waiting for another smuggler to take them close to the border with Macedonia.
Thessaloniki, Greece. July 5, 2015.
Greek activists help Ahmad and Jihan's groups to go across the border between Greece and Macedonia without being arrested by the army.
Near Gevgelia, Macedonia. July 5, 2015.
The group walks away from the border area because the Macedonian police and army can push them back into Greece.
Near Gevgelia, Macedonia. July 6, 2015.
Ceasar, Ahmad and Jihan's youngest child, kept silence during the whole clandestine walk.
Near Gevgelia, Macedonia. July 6, 2015.
The group walked for the night to reach a safe area.
Gevgelia, Macedonia. July 6, 2015.
The family sleeps on a station platform.
Gevgelia, Macedonia. July 6, 2015.
Ahmad and his family are waiting for a 5-days safe-conduct delivered by the Macedonian police to go across their country.
"Every day, we are moving. I hate them all in Syria. They destroyed our memories, our dreams, and our present time."
Ahmad
Ahmad and his group were forced out of the train going across the border between Macedonia and Serbia. They will walk to the night to enter Serbia.
Slanishte, Macedonia. July 7, 2015.
The family has 10 days of legal stay in Serbia. Ahmad booked a hotel room in the capital so his children could get some rest.
Belgrade, Serbia. July 9, 2015.
Ahmad and his group are organising the next step without a smuggler because they found no one they trusted. The border with Hungary is the most guarded of all.
Belgrade, Serbia. July 9, 2015.
Their plan is to cross by foot without being caught by the Hungarian police to avoid being register as asylum seekers in Hungary. Ahmad and Jihan want to reach Sweden and get register there.
Belgrade, Serbia. July 11, 2015.
Jihan is taking off her veil to travel discreetly: the family wishes to look more "European" to avoid catching any attention.
Belgrade, Serbia. July 15, 2015.
Ahmad leads the group with the help of Syrians who have just crossed. They get their direction with the satellite imagery.
Horgos, Serbia. July 15, 2015.
The group avoids walking on the roads not to be seen by soldiers and police.
Border between Serbia and Hungary. July 15, 2015.
Border between Serbia and Hungary. July 15, 2015.
Smugglers drove the family from the Hungarian border area to the capitale suburbs. They paid 200 € per adult, 100 € per child to travel over 150 kms.
Budapest, Hungary. July 16, 2015.
A couple of hotels only welcomes irregular migrants in the capitale. Ahmad, Jihan and the children are waiting for a new smuggler to drive them to Germany.
Budapest, Hungary. July 17, 2015.
The family is travelling by suburban trains across Germany from Nuremberg to the Danish border.
Germany. July 18, 2015.
The family can't find a hotel for the night has they have no legal documents. They wait for their next train in Hamburg station fast food restaurant.
Germany. July 19, 2015.
A smuggler stole the group's belongings in Hungary. They travel now with a couple of bags.
Northern Germany. July 18, 2015.
Ahmad, Jihan and the children reach Bromölla after a month of clandestine travel throughout Europe.
Sweden. July 19, 2015.
" People ask us if we are looking for freedom. But no, we are looking for life."
Jihan
Cidra, Ahmad's niece, is calling her mother who stayed in Syria.
Bromölla, Sweden. July 19, 2015.
Ahmad is reunited with his sister after a 2-year separation.
Bromölla, Sweden. July 19, 2015.
"I am proud to have taken my children into safety."
Ahmad
Bromölla, Sweden. July 20, 2015.
The family went to a registration center and was taken to an emergency shelter for asylum seekers.
Viebäck, Sweden. November 25 2015.
The center is a former high school which can shelter 350 people. Jihan is pregnant with their 3d child.
Viebäck, Sweden. November 27 2015.
The family will spend 8 months killing time in the emergency center.
Viebäck, Sweden. November 26 2015.
"Yarmuk was my everything. I'm like a fish taken out of the water. Yarmuk was life. As much as I try to describe it, I can't do it justly. "
Viebäck Sweden. March 7 2016.
The family got the Swedish protection after 15 months arriving in the country.
Jönköping, Sweden. October 26 2016.
Ahmad and Jihan are living in one-bedroom appartement paid by the Swedish government.
Norrahammar, Sweden. March 6 2016.
Sally is the couple's 3d child, born in Sweden.
Norrahammar, Suède. September 11 2016.
"She brought us a new hope."
Jihan
Ahmad will start the compulsory Swedish lessons once his situation is settled.
Norrahammar, Sweden. March 6 2016.
The family receives a 795€ monthly allowance for food and basic needs.
Jönköping, Sweden. September 12 2016.
Maya is going to primary school.
Norrahammar, Sweden. October 20 2016.
Ahmad learns the basics of Swedish language with an NGO to stay busy.
Jönköping, Sweden. March 8 2016.
"I feel lost, like in a no man's land. I lost my past, I know nothing about my future. We, the refugees, are in an aimless wandering."
Ahmad
Norrahammar, Sweden. March 11 2016.
Jihan is now taking her two and a half year old son, Caesar, to the kindergarten.
Norrahammar, Suède. September 13 2016.
Ahmad and Jihan finally received a new housing from where they will be able to build up their life: register for the Swedish lessons, work, send the kids to school.
Norrahammar, Sweden. September 13 2016.
