, where i am based there, you can see all of the syrians from aleppo city living in gaziantep. like because gaziantep, it's really close to aleppo, like the same kind of food, the same, like, weather and everything else. >> look, they have syrian coffee here and all the trademarks are syrian. >> reporter: rana, who was an english literature professor in syria, is now a social worker helping her fellow refugees get food and housing. she believes many refugees' cultural ties to the region are holding them back from going to europe as much as the financial and legal obstacles. >> it depends on the mentality of syrian people. for example, if they find jobs, and they could be able afford living in turkey, i think they would rather stay in turkey, they don't need to even exert the effort to learn the language, and they share a lot with turkish people. >> reporter: that's especially the case for the syrian kurds like taksim and his family, who share a common language and culture with the turkish kurds who populate turkey's southeastern border. taksem sold his wife's rings to pay rent

our correspondent is in gaziantep and has spoken to syrians about their hopes for the talks in geneva. >> reporter: this is the reality in syria. the government backed by russian air power is on the offensive. their focus is on damascus. the strategy is to isolate the area from the area which is also under a government blockade. >> translation: when the regime can enter the area, their strategy is to blockade and for the fighters and people in submission. they're tightening the see generallyings. >> reporter: they're not engaging in talks with the government. the committee wants goodwill gestures, an end to the bombardments and blockades before it agrees to negotiations. >> translation: we are against the meeting in geneva. the regime is not serious about the talks. it is also bombarding us. >> reporter: people in territories are also concerned about what they see is a shift in u.s. policy. they believe washington is cooperating with the government's main backer, russia. the two powers are behind a u.n. peace plan that could see the president bashar al-assad stay in office at least du

our correspondent is in gaziantep. >> reporter: this is the reality in syria. the government backed by russian air power is on the offensive. their focus now is on the suburbs south-west of the capital damascus. they're in the siege after the rebels did not have an alter mate um. it is under a glovt blockade. >> translation: when the regime entered the area, their strategy is to blockade and fighters into submission. even while geneva is happening, they are tritening sieges like in the area area and the air strikes are increasing. >> reporter: many are not supporting in talks with the government. the committee wants goodwill gestures, including an end to the bombardment and blockades and end to the deobtain ees before entering the negotiations >> translation: we are not against the meeting. it is bombarding us. >> reporter: people inside hop sigs held territories are also concerned about what they see is a shift in u.s. policy. they believe washington is cooperating with the government's main backer, russia. the two powers are behind a u.n. peace plan that coul

our correspondent is in gaziantep and she has spoken to syrians about their hopes for the talks in geneva. >> reporter: this is the reality in syria. the government backed by russian air power is on the offensive. their focus now is on the suburbs south-west of the capital damascus. they're tightening the siege on the area after opposition rebels rejected an ultimate may tum to withdraw from the area-- ultimatu mushgs. >> translation: when the regime came into the area, even while geneva is happening, they are tightening sieges here and the air strikes are increasing. >> reporter: many syrians opposed to the government are supporting the saudi- based committee's decision not to engage in talks with the government. the economy wants goodwill egestures, including an end to the bombardments and blockades as well as the release of detainees before it agrees to negotiations. >> translation: we are against the meeting in geneva. the regime is not serious about the talks. it is also bombarding us while in syria. >> reporter: people are concerned about what they see is a shift in u.s. policy. the

our correspondent is in gaziantep has spoken to syrians about their hopes for the talks in geneva. >> reporter: this is the reality in syria. the government backed by russian air power is on the offensive. their focus now is on the suburbs south-west of the capital damascus. they are tightening the siege after opposition rebels rejected an ultimate mate um to withdraw from the area area. >> translation: when the regime can enter the enter, their strategy is to blockade and push the people and fighters in submission. while geneva is happening, they are tightening control over areas and the air strikes are increasing. >> reporter: many are supporting the saudi based high councils decision not to involve in the situation. they want the release of detain detainees before it agrees to negotiations >> translation: we are against the meeting. geneva is not serious about the talks. >> reporter: people inside opposition held territories are also concerned about what they see is a shift in u.s. policy. they believe washington is cooperating with the government's main backer, russia. the two pow