In an op ed article the New York Times online lambastes the European Union for abandoning Greece to cope with the waves of refugees arriving on its shores from war-torn areas in the Middle East and Turkey. The editorial team of The New York Times point out “As if Greece didn’t have enough on its hands after its European creditors forced it to accept a damaging bailout deal last month, it lis also trying to cope with more refugees crossing the Mediterranean to its shores than any other European country”.

Greece has received more than 107,000 refugees and immigrants in 2015, surpassing the 80,000 that landed in Italy over the same period. The piece criticises Europe saying it is ‘unconscionable’ on its part to let Greece shoulder this burden. Residents on the island of Lesbos in close proximity to the Western Turkish coast have responded generously to the boat load of immigrants and refugees arriving from Turkey, while the Greek government has little resources to offer. “Their response should shame others in Europe”, underlines that article. The article ends by calling on the European Commission to allocate emergency funds for refugee services to alleviate the burden on Greece.