Snapshots from the field in Athens and Lesbos, Greece 

 

Earlier this year, the small town of Skala Sykamineas saw the arrival of thousands of refugees every day. Now, its residents are hoping for tourists to return (Iris Samuels)

Earlier this year, the small town of Skala Sykamineas on the eastern shores of Lesbos saw the arrival of thousands of refugees every day. Now, its residents are hoping for tourists to return. (Iris Samuels)

 

The Entrance to Lighthouse camp, on the shores of Lesbos, where volunteers first received thousands of refugees. (Iris Samuels)

The Entrance to Lighthouse camp, adjacent to Skala Sykamineas on the eastern shores of Lesbos, where volunteers first received thousands of refugees. (Iris Samuels)

 

Lighthouse Camp, six miles away from the Turkish coast, accomodated countless refugees throughout this past year before they continued their journey to mainland Greece. This sign at the entrance to the camp is outdated, informing the arrivals that the wait for the ferry may take up to a few days. Due to the EU-Turkey deal, many refugees have been stranded on the island since March. (Iris Samuels)

This sign at the entrance to the Lighthouse camp is outdated, informing the arrivals that the wait for the ferry may take up to a few days. Due to the EU-Turkey deal, many refugees have been stranded on the island since March. (Iris Samuels)

 

A sign hanging in Skala Skyminea asks visitors to drive slowly. This past year, hundreds of volunteers, aid workers and journalists descended on the tiny town as it became a prime landing spot for refugees arriving from the Turkish shore. (Iris Samuels)

A sign hanging in Skala Syamineas asks visitors to drive slowly. This past year, hundreds of volunteers, aid workers and journalists descended on the tiny town as it became a prime landing spot for refugees arriving from the Turkish shore. (Iris Samuels)

 

Our reporting team in Skala Sykamineas

Part of our reporting team in Skala Sykamineas. (Iris Samuels)

 

 

Skaramangas water refugees

The waters of the Aegean provide relief from the heat for refugees living 

at Skaramanga camp near Athens (Joe Stephens)

 

 

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A boy living under a highway overpass at Athens’ Port of Piraeus shows off his soccer skills for visiting journalists (Joe Stephens)

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Looking toward Turkey, some six miles in the distance, from the point where thousands of refugees have come ashore on Greece’s Lesbos island. (Joe Stephens)

Cemetary gate

A rusted gate blocks the dirt path on Lesbos that leads to an overgrown field that is the final resting place for dozens of refugee drowning victims, many of them children,  some identified only by number. (Joe Stephens)

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Life vests discarded by refugees on arrival on Lesbos island (Joe Stephens)

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