A growing number of Iraqis, including women and children, are embarking on a dangerous and uncertain journey for survival.
Violent unrest and an unstable economy have forced thousands of Iraqis to flee the country. Many have headed toward the Turkish capital Istanbul, were they hope to cross the border, illegally, to western Europe.
They blame the Iraqi government for failing to fulfil its responsibility and resolve the country's current humanitarian and security upheavals.
Others add that they don't see any future for their children in Iraq, and so they must take action for their family on their own.
Activists say the fact that so many are knowingly choosing to put their lives in harm's way just to escape Iraq shows the level of despair among the population.
The tourism bureau says the exodus started three months ago. Iraqi and Turkish airline companies have since increased their number of daily flights to meet the demand.
Most of the migrants are trying to gain refugee status by entering Germany, Belgium, Finland and Denmark through Greece. According to some estimates, over a hundred thousand have already fled to those countries... and that's without counting those who died trying to get there.
According to the civil organizations and activists, the Iraqi government should replenish its strategies towards the crisis in Iraq and convince the Iraqi people to remain within the Iraqi soil.