Μεταναστευτικό – Green European Journal

The author describes the historical and current refugee crises on Lesbos, highlighting a transition from a community of solidarity to one under extreme pressure due to state inaction. By May 2015, approximately 20,000 arrivals had overwhelmed local infrastructure, leading to the deterioration of the Moria detention center and the emergence of xenophobic narratives. The text calls for the government to declare a state of emergency, involve European authorities, and establish proper housing and transport infrastructure to protect the island's democratic and anti-racist character.

• Lesbos has a long history of refugee arrivals, starting with over 50,000 people from Asia Minor in 1914 and a second wave in 1922, which initially caused social shock and fear among locals.
• Between the early 2000s and 2012, Lesbos became a transit point for migrants, primarily from Afghanistan, and was noted for a strong local culture of solidarity and low support for the far-right Golden Dawn party, which received only 4.66% of the vote on the island in recent elections.
• By May 2015, approximately 20,000 arrivals were recorded on Lesbos, leading to a systemic failure where the Moria detention center could not accommodate the numbers, forcing migrants to walk over 60km from the north of the island to the city.
• The lack of state management has led to social division, the exhaustion of volunteers, and the spread of xenophobic myths regarding diseases and crime, while tourism professionals in Molyvos express concern that the presence of destitute refugees negatively affects tourists.
• The author demands that the government declare a state of emergency, involve European Commissioner Avramopoulos, create temporary housing in the north of the island, and secure transport to Athens for the 200-300 people released daily from Moria.

APA

Bakas, M. (2015). Μεταναστευτικό – Green European Journal. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/%ce%bc%ce%b5%cf%84%ce%b1%ce%bd%ce%b1%cf%83%cf%84%ce%b5%cf%85%cf%84%ce%b9%ce%ba%cf%8c/

Chicago

Bakas, Michael. Μεταναστευτικό – Green European Journal. Green European Journal, 2015. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/%ce%bc%ce%b5%cf%84%ce%b1%ce%bd%ce%b1%cf%83%cf%84%ce%b5%cf%85%cf%84%ce%b9%ce%ba%cf%8c/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Bakas |first1=Michael |title=Μεταναστευτικό – Green European Journal |publisher=Green European Journal |date=19 June 2015 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/%ce%bc%ce%b5%cf%84%ce%b1%ce%bd%ce%b1%cf%83%cf%84%ce%b5%cf%85%cf%84%ce%b9%ce%ba%cf%8c/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{bakas2015green, author = {Bakas, Michael}, title = {{Μεταναστευτικό – Green European Journal}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2015}, month = jun, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/%ce%bc%ce%b5%cf%84%ce%b1%ce%bd%ce%b1%cf%83%cf%84%ce%b5%cf%85%cf%84%ce%b9%ce%ba%cf%8c/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }