Who's who?

Illustrated stories of asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants in Greece

More than 50,000 migrants and refugees from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq arrived in Greece in 2018. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) continued to provide medical and mental healthcare to migrants on the Greek islands and the mainland. In mainland Greece, thousands of migrants are forced to live in camps, temporary shelters set up by NGOs, occupied houses or on the streets. Furthermore, since the so-called EU-Turkey deal in March 2016, migrants, asylum seekers and refugees who were in transit through the Greek islands have been trapped waiting for their status to be determined. Consequently, they spend long periods in inadequate reception centres, with poor access to healthcare and the fear of being sent back to Turkey, which exacerbates their medical and mental health problems.

In mainland Greece, thousands of migrants are forced to live in camps, temporary shelters set up by NGOs, occupied houses or on the streets. Access to healthcare is a huge problem for everyone.

In mainland Greece, thousands of migrants are forced to live in camps, temporary shelters set up by NGOs, occupied houses or on the streets. Access to healthcare is a huge problem for everyone.

In mainland Greece, thousands of migrants are forced to live in camps, temporary shelters set up by NGOs, occupied houses or on the streets. Access to healthcare is a huge problem for everyone.

In mainland Greece, thousands of migrants are forced to live in camps, temporary shelters set up by NGOs, occupied houses or on the streets. Access to healthcare is a huge problem for everyone.

In mainland Greece, thousands of migrants are forced to live in camps, temporary shelters set up by NGOs, occupied houses or on the streets. Access to healthcare is a huge problem for everyone.

In mainland Greece, thousands of migrants are forced to live in camps, temporary shelters set up by NGOs, occupied houses or on the streets. Access to healthcare is a huge problem for everyone.

Swiss artist Carole Isler visited some of our projects in Greece in Athens and the island of Chios in February 2019, where she sketched portraits of people and MSF staff. Back in Switzerland, she transformed these sketches into aquarelles.

This project intends to use art to break down the invisible barriers between "us" (inhabitants of Europe) and "them" (people on the move). The drawings and three questions asked of all people portrayed are intended to show that there is no difference between "us" and "them". The illustrations were created for a comic festival entitled Fumetto in Lucerne, Switzerland, where visitors were invited to draw portraits and answer these three questions. The resulting portraits were placed next to the portraits from Greece to create a mix of all people. It created some magic moments we would like to keep being alive.

THE PORTRAITS

Roya

What are you passionate about?

When I was 11 I used to do a lot of drawing, and I was very good at that. I used to play sports as well. I used to do taekwondo, but that’s not allowed for women in Afghanistan. I would love to be a lawyer for women’s rights.

What memory from the past year makes you smile?

Last year I met a man and fell in love. Now we live together, and I am very happy.

What does it mean to be human?

If you are able to offer help to someone, then you should help. I always try to help whoever needs help. I don’t understand jealousy. I never feel jealous of others. If I can help people, I just help.

Nicolas

What are you passionate about?

Football, music, cinema.

What memory from the past year makes you smile?

Barcelona’s football victory against Paris.

What does it mean for you to be human?

Having a loving heart, not doing things to others which you would not want happening to you, having empathy.

Roya

Roya

Nicolas

Nicolas

Michel

Michel

Alya

Alya

Michel

What are you passionate about?

Reading, video games, knitting.

What memory from the past year makes you smile?

In 2017, I graduated from medical school in Greece.

What does it mean to be human?

Just being alive, nothing else. I am a nihilist.

Alya

What are you passionate about?

My passion is writing. I make notes every day and write poetry, mainly when I am sad. When I’m happy I cannot write. I take notes every day. I also love listening to music.

What memory from the past year makes you smile?

Last year was a difficult year. However, last year I got married to my (second) husband. We met in Syria, fled together and got married.

What does it mean to be human?

All humans have a good heart. What makes a good person is showing respect toward others. Having values and giving to others is the meaning of solidarity. Like MSF: they give help to people without expecting anything in return.

Chios clinic

Chios clinic

Matthiaos

What are you passionate about?

Cinema, music, dance, sports.

What memory from the past year makes you smile?

My Christmas holiday with family.

What does it mean to be human?

Understanding and forgiveness.

Parisa

What are you passionate about?

I am pretty busy with my children, who are one and two years old. As they are still small, I need to take care of them, especially as we are living here in the refugee camp.

What memory from the past year makes you smile?

My most recent nice memory is of my mother. She raised my sister and me. We didn’t have a father. Our mother bought us clothes on Mother’s Day. We were so happy about our new clothes – especially since it was her day.

What does it mean to be human?

It is important for children to have a father and a mother. This means they will grow up surrounded by the love of a family and will understand what it means to be human.

Matthiaos

Matthiaos

Parisa

Parisa

Yousef

Yousef

Yousef

What are you passionate about?

Basketball. I would also like to work in the humanitarian field as much as possible. I like to lead people. I know both Middle Eastern and Western cultures and am getting better at what I do every day. Learning every day, self-improvement, self-development.

What memory from the past year makes you smile?

On 12 September 2018, I was part of the biggest transfer from Samos to the mainland after being on the island for nine months. I shared this moment with 380 people (families, single men and women) and found freedom away from the island. Everybody was happy. It was the first time I had felt happy for a long time. There was a connection. People were singing and dancing. It was like New Year’s Eve. They were looking forward to the chance of having proper houses, access to healthcare and education.

What does it mean to be human?

Everyone should be treated like human beings. Basic needs should be met and people should be listened to. Everyone should be able to live in humane conditions. To be free. Freedom of movement, freedom of speech and basic rights, which do not exist in the camp, should apply to everyone. Everyone should be treated equally, regardless of nationality, skin colour or religion. Neutrality.

Chios office

Chios office

Shirin

What are you passionate about?

I used to work in a beauty salon in Afghanistan. I love sewing and making clothes. I didn’t have the opportunity to study so I want to study languages. I am trying to learn Greek, but I want to learn English.

What memory from the past year makes you smile?

In 2018 two bad things happened to me. I lost my brother and my baby went blind. So I don’t have good memories of last year. I’m still very sad about my son and I am also homesick. I have asylum here, but I am not happy.

What does it mean to be human?

Being human means helping others. You do not find people like this in Afghanistan.

Delvin

What are you passionate about?

Seeing people smile at me makes me happy. I like people, as well as the Greek mentality.

What memory from the past year makes you smile?

My children make me smile. The birth of my son in 2019 made me happy. In 2018, all I could think about was coming to Europe. I came here and the people were very helpful. My children can go to school. I hadn’t planned to stay in Greece, but now I want to stay here.

What does it mean to be human?

I see the good in everyone. I try to stay away from bad people. I believe that everyone has good values.

Shirin

Shirin

Delvin

Delvin

MSF in Athens

In mainland Greece, thousands of asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants are forced to live in camps, temporary shelters set up by NGOs, squat houses or on the streets. Whilst health care is guaranteed for everyone regardless of their immigration status under Greek law, accessing care can be extremely difficult due to language and administration barriers. 

MSF runs a clinic in Athens providing sexual and reproductive health care including antenatal and postnatal examinations, family planning and care for the survivors of sexual violence. The clinic also offers psychological counselling, psychiatric care and treatment for non-communicable diseases like epilepsy, diabetes and heart disease.

MSF in Chios

Around 12,000 men, women and children are living in the so-called hotspots on the Greek islands, where they await the outcome of their asylum applications in dreadful conditions. Asylum procedures are complex and applicants must wait up to three years for a decision.

In Chios, MSF teams care for patients living in the Vial hotspot as well as in accommodation in the town centre. The team provides medical care as well as psychological care to thousands of patients. The majority of the illnesses treated can be linked to the miserable living conditions, the long waiting times for asylum procedures and to traumatic experience which either occurred whilst on the journey or pushed them to flee their homes in the first place.

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About the artist

Carole Isler is a Swiss artist and illustrator. She grew up in Frauenfeld in Switzerland and studied Art and Mediation at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and Bath Spa University in England. After graduating she worked for the Museum of Modern Art in New York and was a guest artist at the Conference of Swiss Cities for Culture (SKK) studio in Buenos Aires, Argentina.