Hashim Al Cebir-Abu Musto, who is pharmacist in Aleppo, says the number of immigrants will further rise in case the violent course of events continue.
Hashim Al Cebir-Abu Musto: I am from Kellese neighborhood of Aleppo in Syria. I am 45 years old. I have three children. I am a pharmacist.
ORSAM: Could you tell us about your experiences in Syria and the reasons why you came to Turkey?
Hashim Al Cebir-Abu Musto: After the events broke out, the demand for medicines used in surgeries and treatment materials also increased. Rumors regarding that I provided medicine for Jaish al-Hur members who were injured in bombardment began to spread. Jaish al-Hur seize control in the district where my pharmacy is located, while the Syrian regular army seize the control of the area where my house is located. The area where my pharmacy is located was firstly bombed by aircrafts. Then my family started to be harassed. I ran out of everything I had in the pharmacy, and I had nothing left. I could not find and bring any medicine except for simple medicines. When I had nothing left to sell, I closed my pharmacy. As I was blacklisted for helping the opponents, my house started to be constantly watched by the Syrian regular army. I could not leave the house for months. My 16-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter went shopping together. Telephone lines were cut, and mobile phones were wiretapped. There was no chance to properly have a conversation with anyone. Lastly, I built up my courage and talked to the members of Syrian regular army. I paid a price and came to the area controlled by Jaish al-Hur after leaving Idlib. I came from Idlib to Babel Hawa and arrived in Cilvegözü without any batter, and finally entered in Turkey. The bombardment in Aleppo still continues. Jaish al-Hur seize the control of two thirds of the city, while the Syrian regular army seize the control of the rest. There are lots of people who want to come to Turkey. If the events continue like this, the number of migrants will further increase.
* This interview was made by Feyyat Özyazar in Reyhanlı district of Hatay, on 5 November 2012.
