EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GREECE-SHIP Syrian refugees arriving in Piraeus say they have no option but to move on

Record ID: 141099

  • Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/GREECE-SHIP Syrian refugees arriving in Piraeus say they have no option but to move on
  • Date: 15th September 2015
  • Summary: PIRAEUS, GREECE (SEPTEMBER 15, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TERA JET PASSENGER FERRY CARRYING MIGRANTS FROM LESBOS ISLAND PREPARING TO DOCK VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS INSIDE SHIP GETTING READY TO DISEMBARK (SEEN THROUGH SHIP'S WINDOWS) SHIP DOCKING/HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS ON SHIP'S LOWER DECK WAITING TO DISEMBARK VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS WAITING ON LOWER DECK OF SHIP TO DISEMBARK MIGRANTS, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH SMALL CHILDREN AND BABIES, DISEMBARKING AND RUNNING TOWARDS BUSES VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS GETTING OFF SHIP MIGRANTS RUNNING TOWARDS BUSES COASTGUARD OFFICERS WATCHING MIGRANTS AS THEY RUSH TO BOARD BUSES (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE, FROM DEIR AL-ZOR, SHUKRI, SAYING: "There are difficulties in our way but we are trying. They said, we heard the news that they closed the borders or something like that but we have no other choice. We have even to go on or to come back to our death." MIGRANTS DISEMBARKING FROM SHIP (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE FROM DEIR AL-ZOR, SHUKRI, SAYING: "We wish from the human rights or from the United Nations, for everybody to help these people. We [are] having a disaster, there is a disaster for the Syrian country, for all, I mean." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE FROM HASAKA, MAHMET, AGED 25, SAYING: "First of all thank you for Europe, for all Europe. And we want just open the border." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SYRIAN REFUGEE FROM ALEPPO, DARWISH, AGED 21, SAYING: "Really, I hope to see my family in Germany because all of my family in there." MIGRANTS WALKING / WOMAN PUSHING BABY PRAM AND WAVING YOUNG GIRLS WALKING MIGRANTS DISEMBARKING FROM SHIP VARIOUS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN DISEMBARKING SHIP VARIOUS OF MAN WITH HIS THREE CHILDREN WAITING FOR BUS MIGRANTS RUSHING TOWARDS BUS VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS GETTING ON BUS BUS CARRYING MIGRANTS DRIVING OFF/ OTHER MIGRANTS WALKING ACROSS DOCK AREA
  • Embargoed: 30th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA4UANIYT7P3J87A2USZ0JYCL99
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Syrian refugees arriving on the Greek mainland early on Tuesday (September 15) said they had no option but to press on, despite increased restrictions on movement through Europe.
    A passenger ferry, chartered by the Greek government, brought 1738 migrants and refugees from Lesbos, the Greek island to which they had crossed from Turkey.
    Syrians fleeing the country's four-year civil war said they were not deterred by reports of border closures potentially blocking their path to Germany and other members of the European Union.
    For Shukri, a refugee from the Syrian city of Deir al-Zor, who said he had lost eight family members in the conflict, there could be no turning back.
    "There are difficulties in our way but we are trying. They said, we heard the news that they closed the borders or something like that but we have no other choice. We have even to go on or to come back to our death," he said, while also appealing for greater international assistance.
    "We wish from the human rights or from the United Nations, for everybody to help these people. We [are] having a disaster, there is a disaster for the Syrian country, for all, I mean," he said.
    Mahmet, a 25-year-old Syrian from Hasaka, thanked Europe for providing sanctuary, but did not plan to stay in Greece.
    "First of all thank you for Europe, for all Europe. We want just open the border," he said.
    For Darwish, a 21-year-old from Aleppo, the clear aim was to reach Germany.
    "Really, I hope to see my family in Germany because all of my family in there."
    Several EU countries followed Germany's lead on Sunday (September 13) in restoring border controls, in response to the numbers of migrants and refugees arriving. Hungary has now sealed the main informal crossing point into the European Union.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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