"May God Bless the Hand that Works": Stories from Displaced Syrian Farmworkers during Covid-19

In Syria, Faisal studied agricultural engineering,
and later worked as a businessman importing computer
parts into Syria. When Faisal and his family were
displaced from Syria in 2015, Faisal had the
know-how and capital to start a new business in Turkey.
Ann
SHAHER
Faisal, 43
Occupation in Syria: Agricultural engineer; businessman
Birthplace: Damascus, Syria
Current location: Tarsus district of Mersin, Turkey
When Ann and Shaher visited Faisal in
2019, his business had expanded to include
offices in Istanbul and Mersin (Turkey’s
largest coastal port), and a farm in Niğde
province to grow fragrant plants for oils
and perfumes. Faisal was also exporting
his products to Lebanon, Jordan, and the
Gulf states.
Faisal rents
32 acres of
land in Tarsus,
in south-central
Turkey, and now
runs a large
nursery for
decorative
plants and
fruit trees.