refugees Αρχεία

09 / 08 / 2021

“What does Europe want to achieve? That we will all commit suicide one day?”

A new refugee camp on Samos is almost ready. Nobody knows if it will be an open or a closed facility. One thing is for sure, though: the prospect of confinement in the middle of nowhere leads to the deterioration of asylum seekers’ mental health.

10 / 05 / 2021

“We call it ‘modernization’” – reception centers for migrants will be ‘closed’ facilities

During her recent visit to Greece, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson made assurances that new reception centers on the Aegean islands would not be closed facilities. However, the reconfiguration of existing camps on the mainland into closed facilities are progressing at a rapid pace − and the authorities involved are pointing fingers at each other.

27 / 04 / 2021

His drawing traveled to Europe. But 12-year-old Jamal simply wants to “get out of this jail”.

"I don’t want anything from you. Nor am I happy that my drawing has traveled to another place, while I'm stuck in a prison", says little Jamal from a detention center on Kos island.

21 / 03 / 2021

A Tale of Two Hotels

Refugees were left homeless following evictions as the EU-funded programme providing shelter in hotels ends.

17 / 03 / 2021

“Greece will regret not making use of our potential”

As the government appoints a Deputy Minister responsible for integration, images of evicted refugees living on the streets can be seen all over Greece. "Since you don’t want us here, at least let us move on and best wishes to you all,” said the Syrian we met in Karditsa.

03 / 12 / 2020

Mahmood in waiting

In 2016 Mahmood left Jalalabad, his hometown in Afghanistan, and embarked on a dangerous journey to Europe. After six months he made it to Greece. We meet him in a flat in the suburbs of Athens, which he shares with up to twelve other compatriots; struggling with the Greek asylum services; making a living on the streets; and strolling through the center of Athens. This is his story.

14 / 09 / 2020

Giorgos Tsiakalos: “In Europe, a racist policy is being implemented”

The Emeritus Professor of Pedagogy Giorgos Tsiakalos speaks to Solomon and analyzes in depth the racist policies of the European Union towards mobile populations.

04 / 08 / 2020

Name: Unknown – Cause of death: Drowning

"I can't, I’ve had a difficult time processing all this." Since 2012, the registrar of Lesvos has been mainly registering the bodies of unidentified refugees.

26 / 06 / 2020

The thorn in our side: racially-motivated violence in Greece

Attacks on refugees, attacks on the LGBTQI community, police officers as aggressors. This year, the findings of an annual report by the Racist Violence Recording Network (RVRN) are, once again, concerning.

18 / 03 / 2020

How the Aegean islands became a warehouse of souls

It was four years ago, March 2016, when the EU-Turkey Joint Declaration to curb refugee flows was signed.

06 / 03 / 2020

“Take this tent, they told us, and find somewhere to put it”

We met Ghulam and Ghulam Ali on February 11, 2020, at the canteen across the main gate of the Moria Reception and Identification Center on the island of Lesvos.

13 / 02 / 2020

Whether it’s patients suffering from mental illness in the ’90s or the current refugee crisis – the same social stigmas apply

Two stories from two different time periods, seemingly unrelated to each other, point to the timelessness of deep-rooted fears towards ‘the other’ which generate scapegoats and reflect people’s worst reactions and behaviors.