Off the Turkish coast, the Greek island of Lesbos, gateway to Europe, is deaf to the hopes of migrants.
Twenty thousand Afghans, Syrians, Congolese, and others are piled on top of each other in the Moria camp, which was designed to house three thousand. It will be destroyed by fire shortly after our two visits. And immediately replaced with another even more claustral than the original. No question of hospitality, fellowship, sharing. And yet there we encounter women, men, children… people like us.
With Syrian refugees. In 2019, they were less than 10% in this “hot spot” funded by Europe but managed by Greece.
Three kilometers south of Moria, in the ruins of an arson attack, presumably carried out by far-right activists, on a migrant school in March 2020.
Assessing the damages…
Sharing nice moments with Abdoulaye, a refugee from Cameroon who regained hope after finding a small job…
The “shopping street” of Moria camp, where on can find something to survive. The internal economy of the camp is organized there, despite the absence of running water or electricity.
Fraternity with the refugees of the Moria camp. Gilles Hertzog behind.
The shelter of this woman refugee in the Moria camp is a room for five people. The entrance, covered with pallets, is used as a kitchen.
Meeting at the palace of the Governor of Lesbos, Constantinos Moutzouris (white hair, from behind) with his supporters and allies on the right and the far right.