Syrian Refugees Strive To Adapt To Life In Turkey

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 27: 15 year old Syrian refugee Reem(L) plays with a friend in the park on February 27, 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey. Reem enjoys going to the park after long hours working at a factory. Turkey is currently on the frontline of the refugee crisis and is dealing with supporting some 2.6million registered Syrian refugees, many of whom are housed in border camps. However, for those who have relatives and the means to set up a life in Turkey, hardship continues. For Fatima (52) and her family of seven who have been living in Turkey for the past two years after being smuggled across the border from Syria in 2013, life is difficult. Her daughters Ronak 21yrs, Reem 15yrs and their brother Dijwar 26yrs provide for the family by working in a garment factory for approximately 800TL (260USD) a month which is often never paid on time, if at all. After the death of their father due to a medical condition in 2003, Dijwar, left school and began working to provide for the family, as the war intensified and food prices skyrocketed, they decided to leave hoping to join relatives in Germany or Austria. After numerous attempts at crossing to Turkey they were finally given refugee status and were able to connect with relatives, find housing and start a life. Despite being able to settle in Turkey, the lack of residence status, no aid or healthcare support, workplace violence and low incomes, the family continues to struggle. For many refugee families in Turkey the story is similiar, life is solely about survival, family members work long hours often illegally to provide food and rent but are unable to do anything else, buying shoes, clothing or other items is not possible 'There is no future here, if we have to work all the time what is the future' Fatima says. After two years of living in Turkey the option of taking a boat to Greece and ultimately Europe is still a priority 'If we could get to Europe, we go' Fatima says. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)