Europe’s Refugee Crisis: A Melting Pot of Governments, Politics, and People on the Move

December 3, 2015

As of November 19, more than 850,000 refugees and migrants arrived by sea into Europe this year, and more than 80 percent of them — around 735,000 — through Greece. While the majority are Syrian, there are also asylum seekers from many countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Iran, Somalia, and Morocco. In addition to war, people are fleeing poverty, indignities, and persecution. Images of dead bodies washing ashore shocked the world. But the persistently poor assumption that the European Union was capable of a coherent, humane, and well-resourced response resulted in delay upon delay by the usual international humanitarian actors. As several previously open EU borders are barricaded, thousands of people remain stranded within Greece, hundreds sleeping in summer tents in temperatures dipping below zero on Greece’s northern border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Transit centers become campsites as the devastating reality sinks in that many cannot move northward in pursuit of safety, their hopes, and their dreams.

An overcrowded dinghy takes in cold water from the Northern Aegean Sea as refugees and migrants arrive onto the shores of Lesvos Island in Greece.

Arriving in a coastguard boat that rescued them from their sinking dinghy, children are offloaded first by a variety of different volunteers organizations acting as first responders on the shore.

An elderly man arriving on Lesvos is taken by volunteers to receive medical care.

Refugees receive hot broth and a change of clothes and shoes.

Two young Syrian girls rest before walking to the transit center.

Young men celebrate their arrival into Europe as they walk from the shores of Lesvos to a transit center for processing.

An aid worker calls a Farsi speaking colleague back at the office to ensure that this Afghan family understands that there are refugee camps in Athens where they can seek shelter, food, and a change of clothes.

Two Iranian men make a fire at Idomeni transit camp on Greece’s northern border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The border has been closed to all but Syrian, Afghan, and Iraqi persons.

Refugees and migrants stuck at Idomeni transit camp send a strong message to FYROM for closing its borders.

Migrants and refugees sleep in summer tents in cold temperatures on Greece’s northern border with FYROM. It’s been two weeks since Macedonia closed its border to all but Syrian, Iraqi and Afghan people.

Some photos courtesy of Renata Rendón for Refugees International.