An empathetic portrait of the refugee crisis in Samos

Where dreams are shattered — Jermain Cikic reflects on his experience of visiting the island of Samos, Greece, in the summer of 2021, where he met with people forced to flee their home country.

Could you try to imagine a world without borders, a global space where people can freely move from one country to another, to settle down, live and work wherever they wished? With all the strict controls that states currently execute at their frontiers, this idea sounds like a utopia.

A major factor in why people flee their country is because of war, conflict or government persecution. Everyone should have the opportunity to freely travel between borders. Over the past years, many borders have been  transformed into militarised security spaces through increased funding, deployments of additional border guards, and the construction of walls and surveillance infrastructure. International migration is one of the major moral and political challenges of our time. 

A fundamental human right is the freedom of movement. This is a human right that can’t be restricted by a racist or nationalist government. They are just mechanisms for some groups of people to claim land or protect territory. They are used to exclude others. 

The violence of borders today is emblematic of a broader system that seeks to preserve privilege and opportunity for some by restricting access to resources and movement from others.  The arrivals of migrants to Greece, either by sea or by land, have slowed down since 2016. The restrictive border policies of the EU and the increasing border externalisation make it even harder for refugees to arrive in Europe, where they believe there is a future for them. A safe space. The situation on the islands has changed considerably in the last year due to Covid-19 restrictions and transfers to the mainland. There has also been a drop in arrivals as a result of illegal push-backs by the Greek government and Frontex.

Samos is one of these hotspots islands, located 1.7 kilometres from the Turkish coast. It is a beautiful island from the outside, but dig a little deeper, and the harsh reality becomes apparent. Because of the lack of alternative accommodation choices on the island, many people remained for long periods (for several months and even years) inside the camp and in the wider area around it. 

The European Union gave Greece funding to build five new refugee camps on the Aegean Islands. With the building of the new camps, the  governments tries to present a solution to the humanitarian crisis in the Aegean. The camp in Samos was the first one to be built and has been officially open since 20 September 2021. 

Instead of abandoning camps and embracing alternatives, the EU and Greek government are merely shifting the problem from one place to the other. They don’t provide help to the refugees to integrate into society, but to put them in other camps where they have to live in very poor, prison-like living conditions. 

While the new camps are being built, there are still  converging problems that make refugee housing even more complex. Before the pandemic, asylum seekers were relatively free to move in and out of the camps. There was access to essential services and the opportunity to move out of the terrible living conditions in the camps. The design of the new camps and the new location will unfortunately limit access to the outside and restrict access to essential services. On Samos, the closest village is Mytilene, which is around five kilometres away from the new camp. The perimeter and interior of the centre of Mytilene will be under camera surveillance with motion analysis algorithms monitoring the behaviour and movement of the refugees.  

This does not stop people from taking the risk of reaching a safe habitat. Men, women, and children, families or individuals, sail off on often overfilled plastic dinghies, frequently after being obliged to give in to money extortion. It is vital that we understand, as Warsan Shire, a Somali-British writer and poet, once wrote: “that no one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land”.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


You might like

Surreal abstract illustration featuring pink and grey organic shapes and forms on a dark background.
Culture

Inside the weird world of audio porn

Porn without pictures — Storyline-driven and ethical, imageless erotica exploded during the pandemic. Jess Thomson speaks to the creators behind the microphones.

Written by: Jess Thomson

Two women, one wearing a striped dress, the other a white jacket, pose against a backdrop of posters.
Music

Coming of age in New York’s ’70s punk heyday

I Feel Famous — Through photographs, club flyers and handwritten diary entries, Angela Jaeger’s new monograph revisits the birth of the city’s underground scene, while capturing its DIY, anti-establishment spirit.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Portrait of a bald man with glasses and a beard, set against a blurred background.
Activism

Misan Harriman: “The humanity I bear witness to is extraordinary”

Shoot the People — Following the premiere of a new film exploring the photographer’s work and driving forces, we caught up with him to chat about his rapid rise, shooting protests and the need for powerful documentarians in times of struggle.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Colourful collage of album covers and record sleeves on display in a gallery or museum setting, with glass panels on either side reflecting the vibrant arrangement.
Culture

Largest-Ever Display of UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Opens at Tate Modern

Grief Made Visible — Comprising hundreds of panels made by lovers, friends and chosen family, the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt returns in full for the first time since 1994 – a testament to grief, friendship and the ongoing fight against HIV stigma.

Written by: Ella Glossop

Diverse group of people with various expressions and styles, surrounded by bold text and graphics in dark colours.
Culture

Remembering New York’s ’90s gay scene via its vibrant nightclub flyers

Getting In — After coming out in his 20s, David Kennerley became a fixture on the city’s queer scene, while pocketing invites that he picked up along the way. His latest book dives into his rich archive.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Huck 79

We are all Mia Khalifa

How humour, therapy and community help Huck's latest cover star control her narrative.

Written by: Alya Mooro

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...