Arrival

  the news 

Within five minutes of arriving at the airport we spotted an inflatable boat in the distance 

.as it came nearer we realised it was packed with people. The conditions were very calm and everybody arrived safely. A young man kissed the ground and we talked with a few people about their journey.  As we drove towards Mytilene increasing numbers of refugees were walking along the road at 8 o'clock on a Sunday morning ... then the beginnings of encampments.  Some tents dangerously near moving traffic.

 Moments after landing

1

There are many women and children amongst the groups of refugees including toddlers and babies .  One teenage boy explained that his family could not find a taxi as drivers are not allowed to accept money plus no accommodation would take them in. They did not want to stay in molyvos as they were anxious to get to Mytilene in order to get to the mainland. It is a three day walk.  Volunteers are driving along the route to handout food and water. It is heartbreaking to see families and people of all ages having to make this journey in the heat not realising that when they reach Mytilene there will be days of queueing and delays.

Late yesterday afternoon we scoured the shops looking for crates of water to buy as supplies were running low. Even at 8 o'clock in the evening,in the dark, boats were arriving and unloading near the harbour with nothing but a few torches to light their way. Some people have one small rucksack and some people only have the clothes they are wearing.