VAN, Turkey -- A tipoff from Afghan army acquaintances prompted Ahmad* and his wife Fatima* to flee the capital Kabul hours before it fell to the Taliban. It marked the start of a perilous journey of more than 4,000 kms with their young daughter -- and a destination, the eastern Turkish city of Van, that is hardly the sanctuary they hoped.
The family does not regret their decision to leave Afghanistan. They say they had to go because of military connections that make them Taliban targets. But now they face a different set of hardships, in a country where government and public opinion has been turning against refugees after years of hosting millions of them.
