2017 Greece Refugee Camps

Global Refugee Crisis

Several men seeking refuge from Syria, Iraq and other coutries warm themselves by a fire inside the ancient tunnels of the Castle of Chios, adjacent to the Souda refugee camp holding approximately 1,200 refugees. The #UNHCR has declared this problem the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time.

Global Refugee Crisis

In the Souda refugee camp, 10 people are living in the communal tent labeled Orange UN5. Mohammad fled the violence of Iraq after he and his brother were attacked by an Iraqi gang. Mohammed sustained a head injury but his brother was shot and killed. Mohammed shared the photo of his brother. "I ask you to publish my story and publish all the stories of the people who are present here." While Mohammed continues to wait in Souda for his asylum review, he takes English classes to help prepare for his future life. ----------------------- Omar worked for a company supporting the US-led coalition as a technician at the Baghdad Airport during the Iraq war. After US forces departed, supporters like Omar were left vulnerable to local forces. Omar shared the following video, recorded outside his parents' house on September 9, 2016, which shows Omar and his friend being taken in a car by local authorities. Omar was jailed and tortured for 5 days and then released. He still suffers severe physical and deep psychological pain from his torture. Two weeks ago in the Souda refugee camp he was beaten by men trying to steal his phone. The men broke his nose in the attack. So far, Omar has spent approximately $17,000 seeking refuge. First, traveling in a circuitous route to Finland cost him $11,000 going through Iraq, Erbil, Instanbul, Izmir, Chios, Athens, Salonika, Maksonya, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, Denmark, Stockholm and then to Tokro, Finland. After being denied asylum in Finland, Omar was sent back to Baghdad, then spent another $6,000 traveling through Erbil, Basra, Erbil, Turkey, Izmir, Istanbul, Izmir and finally landing back in Chios, where he waits for his asylum to be reviewed. --------------------- Mahmoud fled Syria. He suffers from epilepsy. The medicine he has been prescribed makes his condition worse and so he has not been taking any medicine for months. "The tents are always wet. There are rats that come here all the time and eat our food. All of us are sick, we can't stay here a long time. We are sitting here with no interviews, no money. There is no hope in the future for us." --------------------- Satar fled Iraq with his 6-year-old daughter, Manar, and 10-year-old son, Amar. They were living in Tent Orange UN5 with 7 other men. During their journey, a local mafia in Turkey robbed him of $4,000 and $2,500 from his friend. Seeking safety, they made the dangerous journey across the open ocean to Greece. “It was very dangerous. It was raining during the crossing. The Turkish government tried to stop us.” He had to leave 4 family members in Iraq. “We left our country just because we want to be in a safe place. Everywhere we go there are mafias who steal our money and beat us. The government doesn’t help us. The UN they don’t give us any help. Also we are sick and when we go to the doctor all they say is ‘good good good good.’ They don’t give us any treatment for our sickness.”

Global Refugee Crisis

Zafar and Rehana, with their 6-year-old daughter, Selina, and 1-year-old son, Mohadi, left Afghanistan seeking safety. The Souda camp housed approximately 1,200 refugees in January.

Global Refugee Crisis

Amer, Asahid and Maliki, originating from Palestine, Morocco and Algeria, respectively, find protection from freezing winds in a makeshift shelter built using the hull of a boat, tarps and debris. 4 men sleep inside small, fair-weather tents erected underneath the tarp. Each man has been living in the Chios refugee camp for approximately 2 months. Jan. 25, 2017, Souda Refugee Camp.

Global Refugee Crisis

“I do not have a homeland.” Amer uses Google Translate to communicate between Arabic and English. Amer worked in construction in Palestine. Now he wants to go to any country that is “safe”.

Global Refugee Crisis

“Youssef” (name changed), sitting on the right in his cramped, makeshift living space in between two other tents, fled Syria and has been waiting 6 months in Souda camp for his asylum application to be reviewed His application was denied. During his 6 months of waiting, the Souda camp was attached and firebombed by fascists/populists on 2 separate occasions - at night and during the daytime, throwing stones and boulders from the cliffs above the camp and burning several refugee tents and storage facilities holding basic human necessities such as clothing and blankets. [Additional video footage and photos provided by Youssef.] When a refugee decides to travel back to their homeland, the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency provides them with a one-way airplane ticket and approximately $2,000 for their return. Unlike the extremely slow asylum vetting process, according to Youssef the process to send refugee back to their country is expected to take only 10 days.

Global Refugee Crisis

Freezing weather, freezing wind, freezing ground, freezing tents, freezing skin, freezing water. At the Souda refugee camp on Chios island, everyday tasks are made significantly harder and due to the lack of services and infrastructure in the camp. Here a woman washes clothing in the outdoor communal sink, scrubbing each piece with her bare hands in ice cold water.

Global Refugee Crisis

Rawan and Ayas (4 years old) fled Palestine and arrived in Chios, Greece by boat. Greece is providing housing for approximately 64,000 refugees throughout the country. On Chios Island, the 2 operating refugee camps, Vial and Souda, hold approximately 3,200 and 1,200 refugees currently.

Global Refugee Crisis

Refugees seek to maintain a semblance of their past lives. A makeshift barbershop has been set up under a tarp with a broken mirror and electric heater for warmth in the Souda refugee camp in Chios, Greece.

Global Refugee Crisis

Dunya is 4 months pregnant and living in a plastic tent with her husband, Amen. The tents have been “winterized” by placing plastic tarps over them. Rainwater seeps underneath the tents and soaks up into the blankets and other materials on the floor and remains continually wet in the cold weather.

Global Refugee Crisis

Many young men fleeing the violence of their home countries are living in Souda refugee camp and others across Greece.

Global Refugee Crisis

"I did not come all the way from Syria just to die here." For the last 15 months Almwuostafaa has been detained in the Souda refugee camp, waiting for his asylum application to be reviewed and processed. The harsh living conditions, inadequate housing, medical services and other basic human needs take their physical, mental and emotional toll on all refugees in Chios and elsewhere. Awuostafaa and other individuals continue to carry themselves with dignity and respect despite the constant challenges they face. One of the necessities and often highlights of the daily waiting and drudgery is the food distribution. Souda camps breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea is provided through the coordinated efforts of several groups including Zaporeak Proiektua, Chios Eastern Shore Response Team and Drop in the Ocean.

Global Refugee Crisis

Many men fleeing the violence of their home countries are living in Souda refugee camp and others across Greece.

Global Refugee Crisis

Refugees are living in communal buildings, plastic buildings or cloth tents. Greece’s winter is similar to the East Coast of the US, with freezing temperatures and biting wind blowing constantly from the Aegean Sea.

Global Refugee Crisis

Zafar with his 1-year-old son, Mohadi, left Afghanistan seeking safety. The Souda camp housed approximately 1,200 refugees in January.  

Global Refugee Crisis

Mohadi, a 1-year-old boy from Afghanistan, is now a refugee with his family.

Global Refugee Crisis

Refugees are living in communal buildings, plastic buildings or cloth tents. Greece’s winter is similar to the East Coast of the US, with freezing temperatures and biting wind blowing constantly from the Aegean Sea.

Global Refugee Crisis

In January 2017, the Souda refugee camp was reported to house approximately 1,200 refugees, in between an ancient barrier wall and a residential neighborhood. In November 2016, the camp was attacked by fascists/populists hurling boulders down onto the tents and throwing Molotov cocktails, setting fire to tents and storage facilities holding basic human necessities such as clothing and blankets. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Greek government and local municipality have the major challenge of managing this and other camps across Greece.

Global Refugee Crisis

Refugees are permitted to move about the island of Chios but are prohibited from leaving to other destinations off the island.

Global Refugee Crisis

"Tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow" a Syrian man describing the frustrating and helpless waiting in the hope his asylum request will be reviewed. Greece currently holds approximately 64,000 displaced people. The island of Chios is approximately 5 miles from the coast of Turkey and one of the initial landing points for refugees by boat. This winter, Chios island experienced its coldest winter in 40 years. Refugees are living in communal buildings, plastic buildings or cloth tents. Greece’s winter is similar to the East Coast of the US, with freezing temperatures and biting wind blowing constantly from the Aegean Sea.

Global Refugee Crisis

This winter, Chios island experienced its coldest winter in 40 years. Refugees are living in communal buildings, plastic buildings or cloth tents. Greece’s winter is similar to the East Coast of the US, with freezing temperatures and biting wind blowing constantly from the Aegean Sea.

Global Refugee Crisis

Refugees are living in communal buildings, plastic buildings or cloth tents. Greece’s winter is similar to the East Coast of the US, with freezing temperatures and biting wind blowing constantly from the Aegean Sea.