Croatia

Croatia created a concept to deal with and transport the refugees over the last couple of months. The majority of refugees will be picked up in Serbia and travel by train. That prevents the refugees from crossing the border by foot.

 

 

 

All Images © 2015 Felix Kleymann

Serbia

Serbia does not have the capacity to receive many thousand refugees on a daily basis. Many refugees have to get on local public transportation and locals build up a lot of resentment.

 

 

 

 

 

All Images © 2015 Felix Kleymann

Macedonia

Once the refugees make it to Macedonia the route gets bumpier. Sometimes they have to catch a train other times a bus depending on the availability. If nothing is available they will end up taking a taxi to get to the border. Price: 25€

 

 

 

All Images © 2015 Felix Kleymann

Greece

As soon as the Refugees get to Athens or Kabala with the ferry they get picked up by buses that take them to the Macedonian border. This part of the journey is very organized.

 

 

 

All Images © 2015 Felix Kleymann

Lesvos, Greece

After arriving in Lesvos the Refugees have to register on the island. The time waiting for transport to the mainland they have to spend in one of the three established refugee camps. If those are overcrowded they have to sleep in tents or on the street. The ferries to the mainland are fully booked for days in advance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Images © 2015 Felix Kleymann

The most intense part of my journey was the dangerous boat ride from Turkey to Lesbos, Greece that lead to my arrest for entering a EU country “illegally” once I made it safely to Greece.

The boat ride happened at 3AM. 17 km (10 miles) with 35 refugees squeezed on one tiny unstable boat.
Constant prayers in Arabic by the passengers asking God for a safe journey. Fear in every passengers eyes.
No GPS or any type of coordination. Hardly enough gas to make it to the other side. Lights on the other side used as guidance.