Galery

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The famous Hollywood actress and activist, Susan Sarandon, has visited the places where refugees disembark at the coast of Lesbos, as well as the camps in Kara Tepe and around the centre for registration and identification of migrants.

Sarandon spoke with refugees and migrants, with volunteers and NGO members, and was impressed, but also touched by the people who are working on the island.

Her presence was quite impressive in the frosty night in the area around the registration and identification centre, the well-known hot spot in Moriah, where the weather was rough and the temperatures fairly low. This space is crammed with migrants who await their turn to be registered at the hot spot.

Sarandon was on the beach as well, where she was welcoming and giving care to the arriving people disembarking from their plastic boats. She shared her impressions on twitter:

"Today the sun is out and the wind has calmed down in Lesbos. A good day for boat arrivals.

A Spanish volunteer group on Jet Skis guide the rubber boats in as we wave from shore. They direct them away from the cliffs to a place they can land safely. 

Medical assistance, blankets, socks, dry clothes, hot tea and juice await them.

As they climb out of the boat, I’m handed a little girl who managed to stay dry except for her feet. At first she is frightened but her thirst overcomes her fear as she drains the juice box. I take off her wet shoes and socks, warm her feet and put on new socks. I find out the girl's name is Semihan. She is Iranian and 5 years old. Her mother joins us, shy and shaken. She also has two sons and a husband with her. 

I can see that she’s trying to hold it together. When we make eye contact, I touch her shoulder and tell her in a language that she can’t understand that I’m happy she made it safely. With that little bit of kindness, she breaks. 

I take her in my arms and I, too, begin to weep because I have two boys and a girl also. I can’t imagine what state of desperation could make getting on this overcrowded, rickety boat seem like a good idea. 

Who are these refugees? Where are they from? What led them here? Where will they go? I have come to hear their stories and learn. I hope that I can make it possible for them to have a voice so we can understand. Understand that “these people” are just like us, wanting to keep their children safe. Wanting them to have a future."