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Gallery|Human Rights

Refugees in Greece in a never ending ordeal

‘We are travelling the same road, a road where our hearts have died, a road that is taking us far from home.’

Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
Volunteers push a dinghy that has crossed the Aegean from the Turkish coast to safety on the beach of the Greek island of Lesbos. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
By Omar Havana
Published On 11 Mar 201611 Mar 2016
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Lesbos, Greece – More than 100,000 refugees and migrants have arrived in Greece since the beginning of 2016. They cross the Mediterraenean, risking their lives to board dinghies after paying smugglers on the Turkish coast.

They must survive a boat ride of more than two hours across the waters that separate the Turkish coast from the Greek island of Lesbos. More than 400 people have already drowned attempting the journey this year.

The Greek coastguard patrols the Aegean Sea in search of boats in trouble. In Lesbos, doctors team up with rescue workers, firemen, and volunteers waiting for the daily arrivals, who disembark on the beaches of Greece shaking from the cold, but happy to have made it alive.

The teams of helpers work fast to provide hot drinks, blankets, medical support and, in many cases, a comforting hug.

European governments have put up a number of obstacles to curb the inflow of people. Recently, migrants from specific countries were blocked from continuing their journey on the Balkan route by crossing into Macedonia, which has led to protests and clashes between refugees and authorities.

In Lesbos, refugees are sent to registration centres, such as Moria, where they wait for days to receive documents that will allow them to board ferries to Athens.

Despite the difficulties, many refugees persevere having left behind homes torn apart by violence and war.

“We all have the same story, we are travelling the same road, a road where our hearts have died, a road that is taking us far from home,” said one Syrian refugee. 

Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
A volunteer carries a child from from one of the boats. Each day, around 2,000 refugees arrive on the shores of Greece. Children make up a third of arrivals, according to the United Nations. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
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Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
A refugee helps Sara, a grandmother, off a dinghy. She crossed the Aegean with her son and grandsons. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
A family awaits registration at the Moria centre. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
Refugees take the ferry to the port of Pireaus on the Greek mainland. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
Thousands of refugees disembark from the ferry at Pireaus. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
Having arrived in Pireaus, refugees who have paid for the trip prepare to board buses that will take them to the Macedonian border. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
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Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
Refugees who cannot afford the bus trip are stranded at the port where volunteers provide support. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
Many stranded refugees who are left without money are forced to stay in public places on the outskirts of Pireaus or in the squares of Athens. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
Volunteers are on hand to help refugees who lack the resources to travel further. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
Buses are stopped at a petrol station on the road to the Macedonian border by Greek authorities. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, has set up a transit camp in a petrol station car park 20km from the border. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
The Idomeni refugee camp on the Macedonia border is designed to house about 2,000 people. It is equipped with heated tents and showers. Several aid agencies operate in the camp, providing refugees with medical help, psychological support, food, and water as they wait to cross to Macedonia. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
A group of refugees approach the border after their names are called. When the border was still open, a maximum of 50 refugees were allowed across each hour. Now the number is significantly lower. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
Macedonia has closed its border, allowing only Syrian and Iraqi refugees to trickle across. The camp is now a bottle-neck housing more than 10,000 refugees. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]
Idomeni refugee camp/ Please Do Not Use
An Afghan child inside one of the tents set up to house refugees at the Idomeni camp. Afghan refugees are no longer allowed to cross into Macedonia. [Omar Havana/Al Jazeera]


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