Remarkable escape from IS of two refugees with severe disabilities
Footage released by Amnesty International today shows the remarkable journey of two refugees, Alan Mohammad (30) and his sister Gyan (28), who travelled from Syria to a refugee camp in Greece to escape the armed group that calls itself Islamic State (IS).
Alan and Gyan, who have both suffered from muscular dystrophy since birth, fled their home in Al-Hasakah, in northeastern Syria as IS advanced. On three occasions they tried to cross the border into Turkey but each time were fired on by Turkish police. They then tried a different escape route, crossing the border into Iraq.
As IS advanced in Iraq they crossed the mountains into Turkey strapped onto either side of a horse. Their mother, brother and younger sister trailed behind, pushing their heavy wheelchairs.
From Turkey they paid smugglers to take them on a terrifying journey in an overcrowded boat to the Greek island of Chios. From there they were taken to Ritsona refugee camp on the mainland, where they remain stranded in appalling conditions.
