The Refugee Crisis in Greece: Testing Our Common Humanity

The author describes a humanitarian crisis on the island of Lesbos, where over 20,000 refugees arrived in the first five months of 2015. The text highlights a lack of government and European Community infrastructure, noting that refugees are often forced to walk 60 kilometers to reach processing centers. It warns that the failure of officials to provide basic services like shelter and toilets is fueling xenophobia and potential violence. The document calls for the establishment of arrival and processing centers, provided transport, and a specific plan for the August tourist season to prevent further suffering.

• In the first five months of 2015, more than 20,000 refugees arrived on the island of Lesbos, exceeding the capacity of existing systems.
• Due to a lack of Coast Guard transport resources, refugees arriving in northern Lesbos, including infants and mothers, are told to walk 60 kilometers on mountainous roads in summer heat to reach the capital for processing.
• The European Community's response to the refugee crisis has focused more on border patrolling to stop arrivals than on providing aid to those who have already reached European shores.
• The absence of government intervention and adequate facilities—leaving refugees to sleep in streets without toilets—is creating an environment where racists and xenophobes can spread lies and incite potential violence.
• The author proposes that Lesbos and other Aegean islands be designated as an "Emergency Zone" to secure resources from the Greek government, the European Community, and international organisations for arrival centers, processing centers, and transport.

APA

Bakas, M. (2015). The Refugee Crisis in Greece: Testing Our Common Humanity. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/the-refugee-crisis-in-greece-testing-our-common-humanity/

Chicago

Bakas, Michael. The Refugee Crisis in Greece: Testing Our Common Humanity. Green European Journal, 2015. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/the-refugee-crisis-in-greece-testing-our-common-humanity/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Bakas |first1=Michael |title=The Refugee Crisis in Greece: Testing Our Common Humanity |publisher=Green European Journal |date=19 June 2015 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/the-refugee-crisis-in-greece-testing-our-common-humanity/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{bakas2015refugee, author = {Bakas, Michael}, title = {{The Refugee Crisis in Greece: Testing Our Common Humanity}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2015}, month = jun, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/the-refugee-crisis-in-greece-testing-our-common-humanity/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }