This is one of those instances when the saying ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ acquires true meaning. Freelance photographer Daniel Etter for the New York Times captured an image depicting a father in tears tightly embracing his daughter and son the moment his family finally arrive on the island of Kos on August 15. The photo has gone viral on the Internet and expresses the fear and relief of thousands of refugees and their families fleeing the terrors of war. He and his family travelled in a flimsy inflatable boat carrying around 15 men, women and children. Etter tweeted in a post “I am overwhelmed by the reaction to this family’s tears of relief”. The image has provoked thousands of emotional reactions in social media around the globe and people are sharing the image to counter the perception of migrants. Speaking to Spiegel Online, Etter said “In that moment it came at them together, the joy of having done it; the love for their family; the grief over what had happened”.

Daniel Etter’s tweet