Lesbos

A collection of charred school supplies

This beloved school gave migrants on Lesbos an escape. A fire turned it to rubble.

Migration

Officials haven’t confirmed the cause of the conflagration, but the blaze took place amid increasing tensions over the migrant situation on the island.

A group of children sit in on carpet inside room surrounded by blue tarp

This school at a refugee camp in Lesbos is a safe haven for children 

Education
Syrian refugee Muhammad, 42, looks at the sea while fishing in the city of Mytilene, on the island of Lesbos, Greece, Dec. 2, 2017.  

In refugee camps on Lesbos, single men can feel stuck

Conflict
A Syrian refugee boy stands in front of his family tent at a makeshift camp for refugees and migrants next to the Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, Nov. 30, 2017.

An overcrowded refugee camp on Lesbos is making children sick

Conflict
Myrta Kalampoka says investing in her olive trees saved her family from the Greek economic crisis. Now she hopes their olive oil can rescue them from an ongoing drop in tourism to Lesbos.

Hear how investing in olive trees saved one Lesbos family from economic crisis

Economics
EMILY is a livesafing device being used to safe refugee and migrants found at sea.

It’s a buoy, it’s a life raft, it’s Emily — the robotic craft that’s saving refugees off the coast of Greece

Conflict

Emily has already helped hundreds of refugees make it safely to shore. Now, roboticists are trying to make the craft even more effective — by making it more autonomous.

Somali refugees

Three Somali journalists on Lesbos hope for the best — asylum in Europe

Media

Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis make up the majority of the refugee population stuck on Lesbos and other Greek islands. So the Africans there to seek asylum are often overlooked.

Refugees and migrants with a cup of tea

A simple cup of tea can mean a lot on the island of Lesbos

Culture

A tea tent at a refugee camp on Lesbos provided comfort and support to volunteers and refugees. Sadly, it closed in March following a deal between Turkey and the EU.

Dr. Zoi Livaditou (R) greets Dr. Shimrit Eliyah of Israid in Skala Sykaminia, Lesbos, Greece. Dr. Andreas Iliadis looks on.

On Lesbos, a courageous doctor struggles to save Syrian refugees and help locals

Conflict

Dr. Zoi Livaditou is a Lesbos native. She’s had a career saving lives as an emergency medicine doctor who has spent time in war and disaster zones in places like Afghanistan, Gaza and Haiti. Now the emergency has arrived at her home — in the form of the massive refugee crisis.

Manolis Tzanetos serves thousands of meals a day to refugees arriving on the Greek island of Lesbos.

Meet the man feeding thousands of refugees a day

Development

Tens of thousands of refugees have entered Europe at the island of Lesbos, straining public services. But one man is stepping up to help out, on his own.