Abdul receives asylum in the Netherlands

Abdul, an Iraqi asylum seeker I photographed in 2010, finally received refugee status in the Netherlands this week after years of waiting in Damascus, Syria. Without the finances to leave Syria as war enveloped the country, he continued to wait in Damascus. 

Not knowing what the future held whilst waiting patiently in a city gently disintegrating into chaos, it must have felt reminiscent of the Baghdad he left years before. 

Smuggling himself to a neighbouring country he was then able to take his flight to Amsterdam, where he says he's happy.

Despite this being only a small piece of positive news coming from Syria, it reminds me that there is some good news to receive from this catastrophe. 

As news filters through from Syria of further homophobic executions committed by extremist groups, I'm happy to see a friend far away, safe, and in a country that has led the world in LGBT rights for decades. 

His What'sapp message was definitely the best of 2014 so far. Happy New Year Abdul!

Clandestino

Evros, Greece

The Evros river region of north eastern Greece has seen a steep increase in the number of undocumented refugees and migrants entering the country illegally over the past five years.

The early hours of the morning bring fresh arrivals from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Algeria and many more. Mothers with young children walking for days on end with little food and water.

The area is officially a sensitive military area for both Turkey and Greece, despite upwards of an estimated 100 people crossing per day. Greece has recently received help from Frontex, the European Union's external border agency, to stem the flow of people crossing in the north but this has only pushed the flow people further south.

Crossing the Evros river at night is a dangerous feat for those who cannot swim.

Many die trying to make a better life in Europe, the place they believe will be safer and filled with more opportunities than their country. The journey for many ends here.

Bodies are often recovered months after death, and the identities of those discovered is usually unknown. They are name-less, nation-less. Relatives may never know the fate of their loved ones.

To be continued...

Lost in Europe

Thousands want to get here, hundreds die getting here.
This is seen as the bright side, streets paved with gold, stable government, open living, free loving, money to be made, multiculturalism, individuality, independence, freedom.
Europe.

For those that make the lengthy, often deadly journey into Europe by land, illegally, smuggling themselves, escaping something worse, yearning for freedom, refugees, economic migrants, the final destination is often not what was dreamt about.

Greece - one of the EU's front-lines, the Balkans, islands, water, a short distance from Turkey. Greece is now home to thousands of people who have made long journeys, worked tirelessly, suffered, sacrificed a great deal, people from far away lands; Arabs, Kurds, Palestinians, Sudanese, Algerians, Libyans, Syrians, Pathan, Hazara, Persian and many more.

Greece doesn't want them to stay, but Greece won't let them go also. Trapped. Limbo.

Those looking for more out of life deserve a chance, the opportunity to have their case heard, asylum claims read, and human rights respected, after all; is this not the land of milk and honey?!

Many look for illegal work on farms paying €20 for an 8-10 hour day, hard labour, without rights. Money that will pay smugglers for the rest of their journey, further into Europe.
Maybe their cases will be read in Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark? Maybe not.

Rising right-wing government policies in France and Italy are threatening the greatest achievement of EU partnership - the Schengen agreement. Let's not take steps backwards and undo this.

Migration is an EU issue, not an issue solely for Greece and other southern European countries.

Think of those camping out tonight and every night, those travelling in overladen and unprepared boats, rough seas, leaving your family, searching, fleeing from war and repressive governments.

Welcome to Europe.