Dying for Europe

Greece has been the gate to Europe since 2009, when the immigration crisis broke out. Migrants from Asia, Africa and the Middle East crossed the Greek boarders either by land or sea. In the years 2015-2017, the situation deteriorated with over 1.000.000 people making their way into the EU. In fear of “immigrant invasion” and terrorism, 12 razor-wire fences were built by European and Balkan countries. Today, about 60.000 refugees and migrants are still trapped in Greece.

With no efficient action by EU and while Greece struggles in the middle of financial and social crisis, it seems impossible for the authorities to deal with the issue. Despite local societies' efforts, refugees and immigrants hardly manage to maintain their basic rights. When lucky enough to escape death, they have to deal not only with their uncertain future, but also with xenophobia, violence and marginalisation.

Having worked for many years on migration-related issues worldwide, I couldn’t but cover what has been described as the largest movement of people since World War II; notably, since a part of this international crisis was unfolding on my own country’s soil.

I’ve visited the greek islands which received great numbers of migrants, many of whom had survived deadly shipwrecks. Then, I’ve photographed the harsh conditions in detention centres and refugee camps in Lesvos, Kos and the Greek capital, Athens. Finally, I’ve covered the desperate situation created in Macedonian-Greek borders, when Macedonia erected a wired fence to close the way to migrants heading to other European countries through its territory.

While the European Union was pondering how to keep its boarders “safe”, my intention was to put the spotlight on the immigrants and refugees themselves, revealing the cruel and explosive reality they were facing, trapped in Greece. For some, this is still the case.