Category: Refugee Blog

According to a newly released EURO-Pol / Interpol report, more than 90% of migrants coming to the EU are facilitated by smugglers. Many of the refugees we have spoken with describe their experiences dealing with smugglers, who charge hundreds of euros a head to get people from Turkey to Greece. They describe their experiences as… Continue reading Smuggling: a multibillion-dollar driver of the refugee crisis →

Recently, the refugee crisis seems to have lost its media visibility. Headlines now are focused on the Brexit, the terrorist attacks in Turkey, Baghdad, Saudi Arabia and the continuing plight of the Greek economy (in the domestic press). In mid July, Athenians are still in town, scrambling to face the new and ever increasing bills… Continue reading Greek Foreign Policy with the Arab World: Current deficits and Future Possibilities →

Of the many unsung heroes of this crisis, the Hellenic Coast Guard can be proud of the thousands of lives saved at sea over the past 2 years. With the support of Greek private sector companies such at the OTE Group of Companies, the Hellenic Coast Guard has rescued over 74,000 people at risk of drowning… Continue reading Hellenic Coast Guard to the Rescue: Supported by the Greek private sector →

Although the Syrian refugee crisis has drawn some renewed attention to the forgotten plight of Afghan refugees (many of whom have been displaced for far longer), Afghans are filtered through a different asylum process. Before the Syria crisis unfolded, Afghanistan had been the world’s biggest source for refugees for 32 years. However, now that parts… Continue reading A hierarchy of refugees? →

Why is Germany perceived as the land of opportunity for refugees? Syrians in particular share more cultural common ground with Greeks than with Germans, but the belief that we have heard repeated is that refugees cannot make it in Greece due to the financial crisis. Despite not knowing a lot about the culture or lifestyles… Continue reading The German Dream →

Our conversations with refugees have identified a key reason explaining why Syrian civilians have been fleeing the country en masse. Of course, issues of safety, joblessness, quickly rising cost of living, prospects for a better life, these themes all stand out. Yet for many it was the plight of the men. Over the past year,… Continue reading The dilemma of taking sides: fight or flee →

While pressures in the US mount to militarily intervene in Syria, those who have made it to Greece await. They await for their skype interview to take place. They await to be given a choice of countries for relocation. They await for the verdict of what country that will be. Most continue to want to… Continue reading The Waiting Game →