- Title: EUROPE-MIGRANTS/PIRAEUS ARRIVAL Ferry load of migrants arrives on Greek mainland
- Date: 23rd August 2015
- Summary: PIRAEUS, GREECE (AUGUST 23, 2015) (REUTERS) PASSENGER FERRY CARRYING MIGRANTS APPROACHING PORT NEAR ATHENS MIGRANTS ON DECK MIGRANT WOMAN HOLDING BABY AND STANDING ON DECK SHIP ARRIVING AT PORT MIGRANTS ON DECK STANDING NEXT TO GREEK FLAG VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS ON DECK MIGRANTS DISEMBARKING MIGRANT WOMEN WITH CHILDREN DISEMBARKING MIGRANTS DISEMBARKING MIGRANT WOMAN CARRYING LITTLE GIRL DISEMBARKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIGRANT FROM SYRIA, MUHAMMAD, SAYING: "I've come here after, let's call it, a death journey, because there was like a higher rate of death going by the sea to here. I hope that, I've really got strong hope after I reach here, it's like the land of opportunities and that's why I hope to go to the UK and continue my studies and be a successful member in society." (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIGRANT FROM SYRIA, MAHAD, SAYING: "So much we walked, four hours of walking in Turkey and fours of walking in Greece. We are so stressed. We hope to find a hotel now, get some rest, wash our clothes, that's what we want now." (SOUNDBITE) (English) MIGRANT FROM SYRIA, MUHAMMAD, SAYING: "Feeling between happiness and sadness. Happiness because I'm run from the hell, and sadness because the way is very difficult. Many people die. And the ship and the palms between Turkish and Greeks and you know, and island. I have something to tell you, that the Greek people is very kind and very nice with us." MIGRANTS DISEMBARKING MIGRANT MAN CARRYING BABY OFF SHIP VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS DISEMBARKING HOLDING CHILDREN VARIOUS OF MIGRANT WOMAN WITH HIJAB HOLDING BOY AND POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS OF MIGRANT GIRL WITH HER FAMILY BUSES ARRIVING / MIGRANTS EMBARKING MORE OF MIGRANTS GETTING ON BUS MIGRANT BOY LOOKING THROUGH BUS WINDOW MIGRANTS GETTING ON BUS INCLUDING MIGRANT MAN ON CRUTCHES / MIGRANT MAN MAKING THE VICTORY SIGN BUS DRIVING OFF CARRYING MIGRANTS
- Embargoed: 7th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA6RA72FHF1M19UKIAZKX2MJQCJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Greece ferried over 2000 mainly Syrian migrants to its mainland on Sunday (August 23) for a third time in four days. The authorities are struggling to handle a growing influx pushing meagre resources to breaking point and turning its northern border into a tinderbox of crowds amassed for passage to northern Europe.
The car ferry chartered by the Greek government picked up 2,466 refugees from four Aegean islands overwhelmed by arrivals, and arrived at the port city of Pireaus near the capital.
Muhammad, a migrant from Syria called his trek through Turkey a "death journey."
"I've come here after, let's call it, a death journey, because there was like a higher rate of death going by the sea to here. I hope that, I've really got strong hope after I reach here, it's like the land of opportunities and that's why I hope to go to the UK and continue my studies and be a successful member in society," said Muhammad, who had to break off his university studies because of the war.
Buses were waiting on the quayside to ferry the refugees, many of them families with young children, to trains taking them to downtown Athens.
"So much we walked, four hours of walking in Turkey and fours of walking in Greece. We are so stressed. We hope to find a hotel now, get some rest, wash our clothes, that's what we want now," said 20-year-old Mahad.
Refugees have typically headed northwards by train or bus to the city of Thessaloniki, hoping for passage into Macedonia and from there to central Europe.
Greece, mired in its worst economic crisis in generations, has been found largely unprepared for the mass influx of migrants, mainly Syrians. Arrivals have exceeded 160,000 this year, triple the total arrivals of 2014. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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