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Lesbos Turns From Vacation Island to ‘Main Point of Entry’ for Migrants Lesbos Turns From Vacation Island to ‘Main Point of Entry’ for Migrants
(about 2 hours later)
MYTILENE, Greece — On this vacation island ringed by the clear Aegean Sea, it is now the tourists who are the rarity. MYTILENE, Greece — On this vacation island ringed by the clear Aegean Sea, it is now the tourists who are the rarity.
Arabic has surpassed Greek as the dominant language on the streets of Mytilene, the main port town. The beaches are festooned with orange life jackets and deflated rafts abandoned by migrants who are choosing to take their first steps into Europe here, in ever-increasing numbers.Arabic has surpassed Greek as the dominant language on the streets of Mytilene, the main port town. The beaches are festooned with orange life jackets and deflated rafts abandoned by migrants who are choosing to take their first steps into Europe here, in ever-increasing numbers.
As the authorities elsewhere in Europe are shutting their borders and struggling to deal with the migration crisis, Lesbos has been overwhelmed by an increasing flow of migrants who have reached its shores by boat from Turkey. As the authorities elsewhere in Europe are shutting their borders and struggling to deal with the migration crisis, Lesbos has been overwhelmed by an increasing flow of migrants who have arrived by boat from Turkey.
The humanitarian crisis the island faced this summer has diminished, partly because of a streamlined registration process for new arrivals and more ferries to carry migrants to mainland Greece. The humanitarian crisis the island faced this summer has diminished, partly because of streamlined registration for new arrivals and more ferries to carry migrants to mainland Greece.
But the island’s relatively calm waters and a Turkish crackdown on smuggling elsewhere after the widely publicized drowning of a Syrian toddler two weeks ago have rerouted much of the Mediterranean’s human traffic though Lesbos, making it the single largest European recipient of new migrants.But the island’s relatively calm waters and a Turkish crackdown on smuggling elsewhere after the widely publicized drowning of a Syrian toddler two weeks ago have rerouted much of the Mediterranean’s human traffic though Lesbos, making it the single largest European recipient of new migrants.
“This is the main point of entry for Europe,” said Antonios Sofiadelis, of the Hellenic Coast Guard on Lesbos.“This is the main point of entry for Europe,” said Antonios Sofiadelis, of the Hellenic Coast Guard on Lesbos.
After sunrise on Wednesday, Safa Salem, a refugee from eastern Syria, stepped from a rubber raft stuffed with dozens of passengers and stood in Europe for the first time.After sunrise on Wednesday, Safa Salem, a refugee from eastern Syria, stepped from a rubber raft stuffed with dozens of passengers and stood in Europe for the first time.
“I know I am in Greece, but I have no idea where,” he said, smiling.“I know I am in Greece, but I have no idea where,” he said, smiling.
The prime role of Lesbos as a migration route is largely an accident of geography. Turkey is so close that migrants have to cross as few as six miles of water to reach the island. And nearby Turkish shores are sparsely inhabited, making them ideal places for human traffickers to gather migrants and launch them in flimsy inflatable rafts.The prime role of Lesbos as a migration route is largely an accident of geography. Turkey is so close that migrants have to cross as few as six miles of water to reach the island. And nearby Turkish shores are sparsely inhabited, making them ideal places for human traffickers to gather migrants and launch them in flimsy inflatable rafts.
While other Greek islands, like Kos and Khios, are also close to Turkey, the waters around Lesbos are relatively calm, making the crossing easier. And the maritime authorities in Turkey have cracked down on human smuggling farther south, according to Syrian smugglers in Turkey.While other Greek islands, like Kos and Khios, are also close to Turkey, the waters around Lesbos are relatively calm, making the crossing easier. And the maritime authorities in Turkey have cracked down on human smuggling farther south, according to Syrian smugglers in Turkey.
That crackdown has not been as strict near Lesbos, where arrivals have skyrocketed this year to more than 50,000 last month from 737 in January, Mr. Sofiadelis said. That crackdown has not been as strict near Lesbos, where arrivals have skyrocketed to more than 50,000 last month from 737 in January, Mr. Sofiadelis said.
Between 2,000 and 3,500 migrants now reach the island daily, riding on about 100 inflatable rafts. That is too many for the island’s 180 coast guard officers to handle, and many now work double shifts and carry out rescue operations when rafts pop or motors malfunction, stranding the migrants at sea.Between 2,000 and 3,500 migrants now reach the island daily, riding on about 100 inflatable rafts. That is too many for the island’s 180 coast guard officers to handle, and many now work double shifts and carry out rescue operations when rafts pop or motors malfunction, stranding the migrants at sea.
For most migrants, who are coming from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, Lesbos is a mere way station on the way to mainland Greece and farther afield in Europe, although the island’s isolation has at times hindered that journey.For most migrants, who are coming from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, Lesbos is a mere way station on the way to mainland Greece and farther afield in Europe, although the island’s isolation has at times hindered that journey.
Earlier this month, a rise in arrivals and slow registrations led to a backup of more than 20,000 migrants on the island, nearly a quarter of its native population. The migrants protested the lack of services, blocking traffic and clashing with the police.Earlier this month, a rise in arrivals and slow registrations led to a backup of more than 20,000 migrants on the island, nearly a quarter of its native population. The migrants protested the lack of services, blocking traffic and clashing with the police.
The Greek government has since streamlined registration and hired extra passenger ferries to get migrants to the mainland, said Djamal Zamzoum of the United Nations refugee agency on Lesbos.The Greek government has since streamlined registration and hired extra passenger ferries to get migrants to the mainland, said Djamal Zamzoum of the United Nations refugee agency on Lesbos.
Sitting in his office on this city’s U-shaped harbor, Spyros Galinos, the mayor of Lesbos, said he felt the island had been occupied by migrants.Sitting in his office on this city’s U-shaped harbor, Spyros Galinos, the mayor of Lesbos, said he felt the island had been occupied by migrants.
Smoking both an e-cigarette and a real one, he called their arrival a humanitarian crisis but said he considered it unethical to view it in economic terms. Still, he said, the migrants had taxed municipal resources, causing 1 million euros, or about $1.1 million, in damages to infrastructure and exhausting the municipality’s yearly sanitation budget four months early.Smoking both an e-cigarette and a real one, he called their arrival a humanitarian crisis but said he considered it unethical to view it in economic terms. Still, he said, the migrants had taxed municipal resources, causing 1 million euros, or about $1.1 million, in damages to infrastructure and exhausting the municipality’s yearly sanitation budget four months early.
The impact of the migrants is clear around town.The impact of the migrants is clear around town.
During the day, the streets are full of migrants speaking a variety of languages, lugging large backpacks and charging their phones for a fee at impromptu charging stations in cafes. Long lines form outside shops selling cheap gyros and in front of ferry company offices.During the day, the streets are full of migrants speaking a variety of languages, lugging large backpacks and charging their phones for a fee at impromptu charging stations in cafes. Long lines form outside shops selling cheap gyros and in front of ferry company offices.
Since most of the new arrivals are Muslims, the bars are suffering, while vendors of cigarettes and SIM cards are doing swift business. One recent morning, the central offices of two major cellphone companies ran out of SIM cards after selling their stocks to migrants using smartphones to plot their journeys across Europe. Since most of the new arrivals are Muslims, the bars are suffering, while vendors of cigarettes and SIM cards are doing swift business. One recent morning, the central offices of two major cellphone companies ran out of SIM cards after selling them to migrants using smartphones to plot journeys across Europe.
At night, those with money return to hotels that are booked to capacity, while others bed down on sheets of cardboard on the sidewalk that rings the harbor.At night, those with money return to hotels that are booked to capacity, while others bed down on sheets of cardboard on the sidewalk that rings the harbor.
Many Lesbos residents sympathize with the migrants even while suffering from the lack of tourism income that their presence has caused. Many tour operators have canceled stops in Lesbos, adding to the economy’s already dire state.Many Lesbos residents sympathize with the migrants even while suffering from the lack of tourism income that their presence has caused. Many tour operators have canceled stops in Lesbos, adding to the economy’s already dire state.
Ignatios Psouhlos, 52, a Lesbos native who waits tables at a waterfront fish restaurant, said that business this summer had been about 40 percent lower than the year before, hurting many locals.Ignatios Psouhlos, 52, a Lesbos native who waits tables at a waterfront fish restaurant, said that business this summer had been about 40 percent lower than the year before, hurting many locals.
It angered him to see the new arrivals clashing with the police, he said, and the presence of so many Muslims made him nervous. It angered him to see the arrivals clashing with the police, he said, and the presence of so many Muslims made him nervous.
“I see their women are covered, and then they want to come here and have rights,” he said.“I see their women are covered, and then they want to come here and have rights,” he said.
But each day brings more.But each day brings more.
Mr. Salem, the Syrian who scrambled ashore on Wednesday, said he had fled his hometown after it was taken over by the jihadists of the Islamic State. He then worked in construction in Turkey for nine months, earning poor wages. So he decided to leave and paid a smuggler to get him on a raft to Lesbos.Mr. Salem, the Syrian who scrambled ashore on Wednesday, said he had fled his hometown after it was taken over by the jihadists of the Islamic State. He then worked in construction in Turkey for nine months, earning poor wages. So he decided to leave and paid a smuggler to get him on a raft to Lesbos.
His goal was to get to Austria, where he said he had friends.His goal was to get to Austria, where he said he had friends.
“I have friends in America, too, but that is hard in a raft,” he said.“I have friends in America, too, but that is hard in a raft,” he said.
Others come with more resources. Others come with more resources. At an upscale restaurant in town, a group of young Syrian men drank cola and played cards, killing time before the ferry that was to take them to Athens that night. One of them, who gave only his first name, Fayez, said he had earned his dentistry degree in the Syrian city of Aleppo last year and had begun working but then decided to flee because the city was so dangerous.
At an upscale restaurant in town, a group of young Syrian men drank cola and played cards, killing time before the ferry that was to take them to Athens that night.
One of them, who gave only his first name, Fayez, said he had earned his dentistry degree in the Syrian city of Aleppo last year and had begun working but then decided to flee because the city was so dangerous.
He hoped to get to France and continue his career.He hoped to get to France and continue his career.
“It is a journey, a kind of tourism, but we do it illegally,” he said with a laugh.“It is a journey, a kind of tourism, but we do it illegally,” he said with a laugh.
Amid the crowds of migrants on the street outside passed two tourists in shorts and sandals, riding bicycles. They had flown in from London and were meeting friends to go sailing but wanted to explore the town first, said one of the bicyclists, Marek Mroziewicz, an architect. Amid the migrants on the street outside passed two tourists in shorts and sandals, riding bicycles. They had flown in from London and were meeting friends to go sailing but wanted to explore town first, said one, Marek Mroziewicz, an architect.
He said seeing the migrants in Lesbos affected him in a way that seeing them on television never had. He said seeing the migrants in Lesbos affected him in a way that seeing them on television hadn’t.
“The sad part is that there is no solution,” he said. “And they are still coming.”“The sad part is that there is no solution,” he said. “And they are still coming.”