So lucky! I did not imagine that it worked out. I wrote several times to Turkish authorities for permission of visting a refugee camp near the border with Syria. But I never got an answer. Today I tried it out – by myself – and slightly hoped everything might work out. But, telling the truth, I was never believing it myself.

Anyway, I got a driver who brought me to a huge refugee camp in Kahramanmaras. It is bordered by walls and fences. At the gate I showed my press documents and asked for permission to get in. Nobody of the gate people spoke English. After some phone calls from their side I could speak to somebody who understood English (which is very rare here!).

I explained him my reason to come. After some minutes of waiting he called back and told me that, without government permission, I cannot enter. But he could offer me some tea. Of course, I said, that would be very nice. A driver from the camp management picked me up and went with me inside. At first sight I saw the huge extension of the area, organized with playgrounds for the kids and some kind of supermarkets in huge tents.

We drove to the administration tent and I had the possibility to get an interview with the camp manager. Fact is, that actually 17.500 people are living here in tents, every day coming about 1.000 new refugees from war torn Syria.

After endless cups of tea and an interesting talk with no rush – thanks to an English translator – I left. Taking pictures were strongly forbidden, but I got a special permit to take some photos near the gate and from outside. While taking pictures a police car arrived. Lucky me, the translator was with me and he explained the reason of my being there.They left without approaching or even asking me.

I never thought it would happen this way. After shooting the pictures the translater drove me all the way down to the city where I finally started with my sightseeing trip. Again, another miracle happened to me today, which I never dreamed of. I made it to the camp and soon you can read my story with all the details.