Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine: how many refugee crises can the world cope with?

On the borders of Turkey, a 6m-high wall in the snow is holding back a tide of people desperate to find a haven from tyranny, writes Anushka Asthana
Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine: how many refugee crises can the world cope with?

Gravestones of unidentified migrants who have died crossing the Turkish-Iran border in Van, eastern Turkey. Picture: Getty Images

The province of Van, in the east of Turkey, is a place of unbelievable beauty, where snow-covered mountains sweep out of the country and into Iran. Turkey is building a 6m-high wall across its border there, and as we reached it, we sank knee-deep into fluffy snow, shivering as the temperature fell to -20C and a bitterly cold wind whipped against our cheeks. In every direction, the view was stunning, mesmerising.

But the beauty masks a grim and stomach-turning reality. For many, this landscape is a death trap, part of a terrible and desperate journey that can only be completed by foot.

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