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Not so long ago, the Greek leros was described as a "model island", as a model project for the supply of refugees. At least the situation was not as bad as on the islands of Samos or Lesbos.
But the situation has deteriorated severely.
The influx of refugees from Turkey to the islands of the Aegean continues unabated. On the islands of Lesvos, Chios and Samos alone 2793 migrants arrived within seven days, reported the Greek state television (ERT), citing the police headquarters of the region of North Aegean. A total of 39,161 migrants await these three islands, as well as registries and other shelters on the islands of Leros and Kos, according to the migration authority. In April, only 14,000 migrants lived there.
According to recent figures from the Greek government in November alone, more than 2200 people live in the camp in Leros - more than twice as many as the camp can hold. Those who can not find a place live outside the camp, without electricity, water and sanitary facilities; in tents on the beach or in a vacant building that formerly belonged to a psychiatric clinic.
"Explosive" and "unmanageable" situation
It is a hospital building with a bitter past: In the late 1980s, international media made public under what conditions the sick were housed there. Unacceptable conditions for the people who, as the SPIEGEL wrote back then, were managed "like animals". That now in the former rooms of this psychiatry now sheltering seekers, is often criticized as an untenable condition.
The refugees make up almost a quarter of the islanders of Leros, which is increasingly becoming a problem for the newly elected Greek government. One minister recently called the situation "explosive" and "unmanageable". The aid organization Refugee Support Aegean warns against the cold winter months and demands that the refugees quickly to the Greek mainland to ship.
The government wants to do just that, even before the spring of 20,000 refugees are to leave the Greek islands - and the previously open camp will be turned into a closed until the summer. Whether the capacity is sufficient or refugees have to continue to live in the hospital building, no one can estimate at present.
The journalist Dinah ... Rothenberg spent weeks observing the situation on Leros together with her brother and photographer Lenny Rothenberg. The two have recorded the stories of the people there. For example, they met a Syrian mother and asked, "Where is the humanity spoken about in Europe?"
Read the stories of the refugees in this photo gallery:
photo gallery
13 pictures
Photo gallery: "Afraid never to lead a normal life"This article is part of the project Global Society, for which our reporters report from four continents. The project is long-term and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
What is the project Global Society?
Under the title Global Society, reporters from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe will be reporting on injustices in a globalized world, socio-political challenges and sustainable development. The reportages, analyzes, photo galleries, videos and podcasts appear in the Politics Department of SPIEGEL. The project is long-term and will be supported over three years by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
Are the journalistic contents independent of the foundation?
Yes. The editorial content is created without the influence of the Gates Foundation.
Do other media have similar projects?
Yes. Major European media such as "The Guardian" and "El País" have created similar sections on their news pages with "Global Development" or "Planeta Futuro" with the support of the Gates Foundation.
Was there already similar projects at SPIEGEL ONLINE?
SPIEGEL ONLINE has already implemented two projects in recent years with the European Journalism Center (EJC) and the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The "Expedition The Day After tomorrow" on Global Sustainability Goals and the journalistic refugee project "The New Arrivals" Several award-winning multimedia reports on the topics of migration and escape have emerged.
Where can I find all the publications on the Global Society?
The pieces can be found at SPIEGEL ONLINE on the topic page Global Society.