This study aims to provide a multidimensional examination of living conditions, security experiences, access to services, economic circumstances, and the reasons behind the growing tendency among Afghan and Iranian migrants residing in Türkiye to leave the country through irregular routes. The research employs a mixed-methods approach and is based on an online survey with 193 participants, three focus group discussions with migrants living in Türkiye, and five in-depth interviews with individuals who have left Türkiye through unsafe pathways in recent years. The analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data shows that migrants face a set of structural and interlinked challenges that have reduced their living conditions to the level of mere “survival.”

The findings indicate that legal instability and prolonged uncertainty such as lengthy processing times, the rise in rejected applications, and the broad consequences of these rejections for access to healthcare, education, and employment constitute the core of migrants’ vulnerability. Approximately 90 percent of respondents do not have a work permit, and most are employed in the informal labor market, where they face low wages and exploitation. Widespread social discrimination and racism in neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces have created a deep sense of exclusion for many. Limited access to healthcare services, legal counseling, and support institutions, combined with the reduction of civil society resources since 2023 has left many migrants effectively without assistance when facing daily challenges.

Qualitative analysis reveals that the decision to leave Türkiye through irregular routes is not driven by a desire to reach Europe, but by a structural dead-end shaped by economic pressures, fear of arrest and deportation, discrimination, insecurity, lack of future prospects, and the absence of a safe return to Afghanistan or Iran. Under such circumstances, unsafe routes become the “last remaining option” for many migrants. The study underscores the need for policy reform, strengthened protection mechanisms, and improved access to essential services for migrants.

 

Multi-Dimensional Assessment of the Situation of Afghan and Iranian Refugees in Turkey and the Factors Influencing Their Inclination Toward Unsafe Migration to Europe