The Barber, the Baker, the Plumber: Syrian Children on the Job
Ongoing clashes between the Islamic State militant group and Syria's Kurdish Democratic Union Party have driven 200-thousand refugees to Turkey, where many have settled in the city of Sanliurfa. Nearly half of these Syrian refugees are children. Many of these children have no choice but to work seven to 12 hours per day in order to financially support their families. They work in clothing stores, restaurants, repair shops, bakeries and food markets. Celal Iso, 13, works 7 to 12 hours a day in a bakery shop. Azad Muhammed, 13, works in an automobile repair shop. Between his parents and his 9 brothers and sisters, Azaz is the only family member currently with a job. Mustafa Aziz, 12, works in a barber shop. Mustafa immigrated with his family from Kobane and he now works 5 to 8 hours a day in the shop. He is supporting ten brothers and sisters.