Refugee Influx Turns Part of Istanbul Into 'Little Damascus'

Refugee Influx¹ Turns Part of Istanbul Into 'Little Damascus'

ISTANBUL—

The Aksaray district of Istanbul, with its small cheap hotels and boarding houses, is a traditional gathering² place for exiles from the region’s crises. Afghans, Iranians and Iraqis all have sought refuge here at one time or another. These days it's Syrians, and the area already is being called “Little Damascus.”

The air on the streets is heavy with the scent³ of aromatic⁴ spices — in particular cinnamon, synonymous with Syrian cuisine⁵.

The Mandi restaurant opened two-and-a-half years ago.  A photo on the wall shows the owners' old restaurant in Syria, closed by the war. Istanbul has been good to them, said Isan Abdi, now a co-owner of three restaurants. But Abdi confessed that the language barrier was difficult, along with conservative tastes.

"In the beginning, the language of Turkish was very difficult," he said. "But then Turkish people and the Turkish government helped us. Now Syrian people came here, Iraqi people, and from Africa, and eastern Asia, Thailand, Philippines. All of them like rice. But it's a new food for Turkish people. ... Delicious, but I don't think they want to try a new thing."

Little Damascus is not only about restaurants. It's also home to many businesses. Abdulkadir Tarhan moved his food-processing factory from Syria across the border to Gaziantep in Turkey, and he now runs his enterprise from Istanbul, which has links to all of the Arab world. Tarhan said many Syrian businessmen find Istanbul an ideal base.

“There are various sorts of businesses — restaurants, real estate or tourism," he said. "Many people from Aleppo work in the manufacturing business. Turkey has recognized that there are 10,000 to 12,000 Syrian companies which are officially licensed⁶ in Turkey, working legally."

Jobs are scarce

But many Syrians are struggling to survive. A few minutes' walk from Tarhan’s office is a public square where thousands of Syrians are usually milling around, passing the time and dreaming about moving on, farther into Europe.

Mustafa, one of the Syrian refugees, said there's no work, and "Syrians have no life here in Istanbul."

Food and rent are expensive, so "everyone is going to Germany or Bulgaria," Mustafa said. Syrians have a very difficult life in Istanbul, he added, and when there is work, it is very hard. Mustafa said he works 12 to 14 hours a day, sometimes until 2 a.m.

But for many Syrians, restaurateur Abdi said, Europe is no paradise, either.

"First, yes, they think it is a heaven there," he said. "[They think] they will sit and [the Europeans] will give them money. It’s not like that. They must work, most of them."

Turkey is now giving Syrians free health insurance along with work permits. But with unemployment over 10 percent, the competition to find work is only becoming more difficult. So the allure⁷ of Europe still beckons⁸ to Syrians, whatever risks they must take to get there.

1 influx   

n.流入，注入

参考例句：

• The country simply cannot absorb this influx of refugees.这个国家实在不能接纳这么多涌入的难民。
• Textile workers favoured protection because they feared an influx of cheap cloth.纺织工人拥护贸易保护措施，因为他们担心涌入廉价纺织品。

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

4 aromatic   

adj.芳香的，有香味的

参考例句：

• It has an agreeable aromatic smell.它有一种好闻的香味。
• It is light,fruity aromatic and a perfect choice for ending a meal.它是口感轻淡，圆润，芳香的，用于结束一顿饭完美的选择。

5 cuisine   

n.烹调，烹饪法

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• This restaurant is renowned for its cuisine.这家餐馆以其精美的饭菜而闻名。

6 licensed   

adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The new drug has not yet been licensed in the US. 这种新药尚未在美国获得许可。
• Is that gun licensed? 那支枪有持枪执照吗？

7 allure   

n.诱惑力，魅力；vt.诱惑，引诱，吸引

参考例句：

• The window displays allure customers to buy goods.橱窗陈列品吸引顾客购买货物。
• The book has a certain allure for which it is hard to find a reason.这本书有一种难以解释的魅力。

8 beckons   

v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• He sent his ships wherever profit beckons. 他将船队派往赢利的那些地方。 来自辞典例句
• I believe history beckons again. 我认为现在历史又在召唤了。 来自辞典例句