Expat Eric Kempson, aged 60, his wife and daughter, led a quiet life in a village in northern Lesvos. When they started noticing crowded boats crossing over from Turkey they would go and watch. There would be five to 11 boats a day, each one with 50-60 people from Syria, Eritria, Afghanistan and Somalia… just some of the 22,000 migrants that arrived on Lesvos so far this year. They scream “Yunan!” (meaning Greek) excitedly upon arrival.
No sooner do they get off their boats that they make the walk to the scenic village of Molyvos. Volunteers greet them with bottled water, fruit, nappies. Greek-Australian restaurateur Melinda McRostie makes sandwiches. They are gulped down gratefully as some of the people haven’t eaten for days.
Migrants on a dinghy head to the Greek island of Lesvos last Thursday. Some 48,000 migrants have landed on Greek shores so far this year, with about half coming to Lesvos, a popular vacation spot for European tourists. Some islanders and tourists are assisting the migrants, many of whom are camping in the open.
The expats are oftentimes joined by tourists who have traveled to Lesvos to unwind. Dutch Paula Dieiers says she cannot enjoy her holiday knowing that there are so many people in need. It helps ease her conscious knowing she has offered bottled water and biscuits to these foreigners while on their way to the beach. Tourists, expats and migrants – all foreigners in Greece – feel a strange comaraderie despite the fact that their lives are worlds apart.
Dutch tourists (left) with Eric Kempson, a 60-year-old Briton who’s lived for years on the Greek island of Lesvos. From his home, he sees five or six boats of migrants arriving on the island daily.
the situation is difficult for the Greeks who are swamped with displaced people. The more sympathetic islanders help drive the exhausted refugees to Mytilini. Hoteliers who are seeing tourism drop are concerned, torn between their humanity and livelihood.
Ask me anything
Explore related questions
