Syrian refugees in Turkey take on new life as circus performers

Children at the Altinozu refugee camp in the southeast of Turkey's Hatay Province still live with memories of Syria only a stone’s throw away, but it is excitement that fills the air these days.

This is thanks to Turkey’s Art Anywhere Association, which teaches children from Syria and Turkey circus tricks like juggling, and tightrope-walking.

According to CGTN’s Natalie Carney, 18 of these children were recently in Hatay for a performance to mark World Refugee Day on June 20. These same children are also preparing for a regional circus festival in two months’ time.

This show, supported by the UNHCR for World Refugee Day, gave the children a chance to forget the harsh realities of their past.

The United Nations said the number of forcibly displaced people has almost doubled in the last two decades, with an average of 20 people becoming refugees every minute.

According to the UN refugee agency, Turkey hosts close to three million of the world’s 65 million refugees, of which most are from Syria and Iraq.

Turkey recently re-opened its borders with Syria, allowing Syrians who want to return home to cross over for the celebration of Eid, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

However, according to customs officials, only 10 percent of those who have crossed the border have left their refugee cards in Turkey, which means they’re not planning on coming back.

(CGTN)