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HONY heads to front lines of Europe's refugee crisis

Published October 11th, 2015 - 09:35 GMT

Between the Bodrum peninsula and the Greek island of Kos lies a narrow section of the Aegean Sea, only four kilometers in length. The distance doesn’t seem like much on paper, but for refugees and migrants fleeing countries shattered by years-long conflict, these are often the few kilometers between the things they’re leaving behind and the promises they’re running toward on European shores.

By now you know the story—people smugglers in Turkey stuff flimsy plastic dinghies to the brim with men, women and children chasing the European dream. Sometimes they make it. Many other times they fail.

Over 350,000 people have enered the EU since January of this year. Meanwhile, a September count by the International Organization for Migration showed at least 2,600 have died trying to make the trip by sea in 2015.

This month, Humans of New York photographer Brandon Stanton headed to Europe to document the massive population movement, and capture the faces behind the dizzying numbers. 

In standard Stanton style, the photos are featured with a poignant exerpt from the photographer's conversation with his subjects. 

We've taken our favorite exerpts from some of his best work below. But you can see the full project on his Facebook page. 

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Stanton started with Muhammed from Iraqi Kurdistan, who he photographed first in 2014. By the time they met again in 2015, he’d been loaded at gunpoint onto a boat to Greece, spending three days in jail before walking to Albania. He reached Austria a month later, and was given a travel document almost a year on. (Austria)

Stanton started with Muhammed from Iraqi Kurdistan, who he photographed first in 2014. By the time they met again in 2015, he’d been loaded at gunpoint onto a boat to Greece, spending three days in jail before walking to Albania. He reached Austria a month later, and was given a travel document almost a year on. (Austria)

“We started receiving text messages one day. They said: ‘Give us money, or we will burn down your house.’ One night we woke up and our house was on fire. We sold everything we owned, and we left. Everyone here has been very nice to us. A priest even gave us this carpet to pray on. He told us: ‘We have the same God.’” (Lesvos, Greece)

“We started receiving text messages one day. They said: ‘Give us money, or we will burn down your house.’ One night we woke up and our house was on fire. We sold everything we owned, and we left. Everyone here has been very nice to us. A priest even gave us this carpet to pray on. He told us: ‘We have the same God.’” (Lesvos, Greece)

“I went to Australia when I was fifteen because my family didn’t have enough to eat. I was on a boat for forty days. So everyday I drive the van to the port and hand out bread to the refugees.” (Kos, Greece)

“I went to Australia when I was fifteen because my family didn’t have enough to eat. I was on a boat for forty days. So everyday I drive the van to the port and hand out bread to the refugees.” (Kos, Greece)

“When we were getting on the plastic boat, I heard her say something that broke my heart. She saw her mother being crushed by the crowd, and she screamed: 'Please don't kill my mother! Kill me instead!'" (Lesvos, Greece)

“When we were getting on the plastic boat, I heard her say something that broke my heart. She saw her mother being crushed by the crowd, and she screamed: 'Please don't kill my mother! Kill me instead!'" (Lesvos, Greece)

“A friend called me at work and told me that a sniper had shot my youngest brother. He’s paralyzed now and his speech is slow. He needs an operation in his eye. I’m trying to get him to Germany because I hear that maybe the doctors there can help him.” (Lesvos, Greece)

“A friend called me at work and told me that a sniper had shot my youngest brother. He’s paralyzed now and his speech is slow. He needs an operation in his eye. I’m trying to get him to Germany because I hear that maybe the doctors there can help him.” (Lesvos, Greece)

“ISIS told me that they’d come get me when it was time. When they came to my house, I was hiding, so they took my neighbors instead. Everyone they took that day was killed by American planes.” (Lesvos, Greece)

“ISIS told me that they’d come get me when it was time. When they came to my house, I was hiding, so they took my neighbors instead. Everyone they took that day was killed by American planes.” (Lesvos, Greece)

“One day after school he was waiting in a line of school buses. And a rocket hit the bus in front of him. Four of his friends were killed.” (Kos, Greece)

“One day after school he was waiting in a line of school buses. And a rocket hit the bus in front of him. Four of his friends were killed.” (Kos, Greece)

“‘Why do you want my mother?’ she asked. Later, her parents told us how the family had crouched in the woods while soldiers ransacked their house in Syria. More recently they’d been chased through the woods by Turkish police.” (Lesvos, Greece)

“‘Why do you want my mother?’ she asked. Later, her parents told us how the family had crouched in the woods while soldiers ransacked their house in Syria. More recently they’d been chased through the woods by Turkish police.” (Lesvos, Greece)

“In the ocean, my husband took off his life jacket and gave it to a woman. After several hours he told me that he was too tired to swim and that he was going to float on his back and rest. I could hear him calling me but he got further and further away. Eventually a boat found me. They never found my husband.” (Kos, Greece)

“In the ocean, my husband took off his life jacket and gave it to a woman. After several hours he told me that he was too tired to swim and that he was going to float on his back and rest. I could hear him calling me but he got further and further away. Eventually a boat found me. They never found my husband.” (Kos, Greece)

“My father’s body was lying on the ground with his head split open. Part of his brain was on the street. I was young and naïve. I remember thinking: ‘It will be OK. He just needs an operation.’” (Vienna, Austria)

“My father’s body was lying on the ground with his head split open. Part of his brain was on the street. I was young and naïve. I remember thinking: ‘It will be OK. He just needs an operation.’” (Vienna, Austria)

“The army came for me during Ramadan. They brought me to the prison and blindfolded me. They beat me for hours while they questioned me. They kept me for three days. I went home and hugged my family but I had to go straight to work. Because there was no food in the house and no one had eaten for days.” (Lesvos, Greece)

“The army came for me during Ramadan. They brought me to the prison and blindfolded me. They beat me for hours while they questioned me. They kept me for three days. I went home and hugged my family but I had to go straight to work. Because there was no food in the house and no one had eaten for days.” (Lesvos, Greece)

“I worked as a waiter in Saudi Arabia for seven years to save money so that I could build a house in Syria. Every day the army knocked on our door, and said: ‘Help us or we will kill you.’ Minding our own business was not a choice. We left with nothing but our clothes.” (Lesvos, Greece)

“I worked as a waiter in Saudi Arabia for seven years to save money so that I could build a house in Syria. Every day the army knocked on our door, and said: ‘Help us or we will kill you.’ Minding our own business was not a choice. We left with nothing but our clothes.” (Lesvos, Greece)

“I lived in Mosul under ISIS. One of my neighbors reported me for shaving my beard. They dragged me into the center of the city and made me kneel. When the first lash hit me, the pain was so bad that it felt like my soul left my body. They lashed me twelve times. I lost consciousness before it ended and woke up in bed.” (Salzburg, Austria)

“I lived in Mosul under ISIS. One of my neighbors reported me for shaving my beard. They dragged me into the center of the city and made me kneel. When the first lash hit me, the pain was so bad that it felt like my soul left my body. They lashed me twelve times. I lost consciousness before it ended and woke up in bed.” (Salzburg, Austria)

Stanton started with Muhammed from Iraqi Kurdistan, who he photographed first in 2014. By the time they met again in 2015, he’d been loaded at gunpoint onto a boat to Greece, spending three days in jail before walking to Albania. He reached Austria a month later, and was given a travel document almost a year on. (Austria)
“We started receiving text messages one day. They said: ‘Give us money, or we will burn down your house.’ One night we woke up and our house was on fire. We sold everything we owned, and we left. Everyone here has been very nice to us. A priest even gave us this carpet to pray on. He told us: ‘We have the same God.’” (Lesvos, Greece)
“I went to Australia when I was fifteen because my family didn’t have enough to eat. I was on a boat for forty days. So everyday I drive the van to the port and hand out bread to the refugees.” (Kos, Greece)
“When we were getting on the plastic boat, I heard her say something that broke my heart. She saw her mother being crushed by the crowd, and she screamed: 'Please don't kill my mother! Kill me instead!'" (Lesvos, Greece)
“A friend called me at work and told me that a sniper had shot my youngest brother. He’s paralyzed now and his speech is slow. He needs an operation in his eye. I’m trying to get him to Germany because I hear that maybe the doctors there can help him.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“ISIS told me that they’d come get me when it was time. When they came to my house, I was hiding, so they took my neighbors instead. Everyone they took that day was killed by American planes.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“One day after school he was waiting in a line of school buses. And a rocket hit the bus in front of him. Four of his friends were killed.” (Kos, Greece)
“‘Why do you want my mother?’ she asked. Later, her parents told us how the family had crouched in the woods while soldiers ransacked their house in Syria. More recently they’d been chased through the woods by Turkish police.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“In the ocean, my husband took off his life jacket and gave it to a woman. After several hours he told me that he was too tired to swim and that he was going to float on his back and rest. I could hear him calling me but he got further and further away. Eventually a boat found me. They never found my husband.” (Kos, Greece)
“My father’s body was lying on the ground with his head split open. Part of his brain was on the street. I was young and naïve. I remember thinking: ‘It will be OK. He just needs an operation.’” (Vienna, Austria)
“The army came for me during Ramadan. They brought me to the prison and blindfolded me. They beat me for hours while they questioned me. They kept me for three days. I went home and hugged my family but I had to go straight to work. Because there was no food in the house and no one had eaten for days.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“I worked as a waiter in Saudi Arabia for seven years to save money so that I could build a house in Syria. Every day the army knocked on our door, and said: ‘Help us or we will kill you.’ Minding our own business was not a choice. We left with nothing but our clothes.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“I lived in Mosul under ISIS. One of my neighbors reported me for shaving my beard. They dragged me into the center of the city and made me kneel. When the first lash hit me, the pain was so bad that it felt like my soul left my body. They lashed me twelve times. I lost consciousness before it ended and woke up in bed.” (Salzburg, Austria)
Stanton started with Muhammed from Iraqi Kurdistan, who he photographed first in 2014. By the time they met again in 2015, he’d been loaded at gunpoint onto a boat to Greece, spending three days in jail before walking to Albania. He reached Austria a month later, and was given a travel document almost a year on. (Austria)
Stanton started with Muhammed from Iraqi Kurdistan, who he photographed first in 2014. By the time they met again in 2015, he’d been loaded at gunpoint onto a boat to Greece, spending three days in jail before walking to Albania. He reached Austria a month later, and was given a travel document almost a year on. (Austria)
“We started receiving text messages one day. They said: ‘Give us money, or we will burn down your house.’ One night we woke up and our house was on fire. We sold everything we owned, and we left. Everyone here has been very nice to us. A priest even gave us this carpet to pray on. He told us: ‘We have the same God.’” (Lesvos, Greece)
“We started receiving text messages one day. They said: ‘Give us money, or we will burn down your house.’ One night we woke up and our house was on fire. We sold everything we owned, and we left. Everyone here has been very nice to us. A priest even gave us this carpet to pray on. He told us: ‘We have the same God.’” (Lesvos, Greece)
“I went to Australia when I was fifteen because my family didn’t have enough to eat. I was on a boat for forty days. So everyday I drive the van to the port and hand out bread to the refugees.” (Kos, Greece)
“I went to Australia when I was fifteen because my family didn’t have enough to eat. I was on a boat for forty days. So everyday I drive the van to the port and hand out bread to the refugees.” (Kos, Greece)
“When we were getting on the plastic boat, I heard her say something that broke my heart. She saw her mother being crushed by the crowd, and she screamed: 'Please don't kill my mother! Kill me instead!'" (Lesvos, Greece)
“When we were getting on the plastic boat, I heard her say something that broke my heart. She saw her mother being crushed by the crowd, and she screamed: 'Please don't kill my mother! Kill me instead!'" (Lesvos, Greece)
“A friend called me at work and told me that a sniper had shot my youngest brother. He’s paralyzed now and his speech is slow. He needs an operation in his eye. I’m trying to get him to Germany because I hear that maybe the doctors there can help him.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“A friend called me at work and told me that a sniper had shot my youngest brother. He’s paralyzed now and his speech is slow. He needs an operation in his eye. I’m trying to get him to Germany because I hear that maybe the doctors there can help him.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“ISIS told me that they’d come get me when it was time. When they came to my house, I was hiding, so they took my neighbors instead. Everyone they took that day was killed by American planes.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“ISIS told me that they’d come get me when it was time. When they came to my house, I was hiding, so they took my neighbors instead. Everyone they took that day was killed by American planes.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“One day after school he was waiting in a line of school buses. And a rocket hit the bus in front of him. Four of his friends were killed.” (Kos, Greece)
“One day after school he was waiting in a line of school buses. And a rocket hit the bus in front of him. Four of his friends were killed.” (Kos, Greece)
“‘Why do you want my mother?’ she asked. Later, her parents told us how the family had crouched in the woods while soldiers ransacked their house in Syria. More recently they’d been chased through the woods by Turkish police.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“‘Why do you want my mother?’ she asked. Later, her parents told us how the family had crouched in the woods while soldiers ransacked their house in Syria. More recently they’d been chased through the woods by Turkish police.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“In the ocean, my husband took off his life jacket and gave it to a woman. After several hours he told me that he was too tired to swim and that he was going to float on his back and rest. I could hear him calling me but he got further and further away. Eventually a boat found me. They never found my husband.” (Kos, Greece)
“In the ocean, my husband took off his life jacket and gave it to a woman. After several hours he told me that he was too tired to swim and that he was going to float on his back and rest. I could hear him calling me but he got further and further away. Eventually a boat found me. They never found my husband.” (Kos, Greece)
“My father’s body was lying on the ground with his head split open. Part of his brain was on the street. I was young and naïve. I remember thinking: ‘It will be OK. He just needs an operation.’” (Vienna, Austria)
“My father’s body was lying on the ground with his head split open. Part of his brain was on the street. I was young and naïve. I remember thinking: ‘It will be OK. He just needs an operation.’” (Vienna, Austria)
“The army came for me during Ramadan. They brought me to the prison and blindfolded me. They beat me for hours while they questioned me. They kept me for three days. I went home and hugged my family but I had to go straight to work. Because there was no food in the house and no one had eaten for days.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“The army came for me during Ramadan. They brought me to the prison and blindfolded me. They beat me for hours while they questioned me. They kept me for three days. I went home and hugged my family but I had to go straight to work. Because there was no food in the house and no one had eaten for days.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“I worked as a waiter in Saudi Arabia for seven years to save money so that I could build a house in Syria. Every day the army knocked on our door, and said: ‘Help us or we will kill you.’ Minding our own business was not a choice. We left with nothing but our clothes.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“I worked as a waiter in Saudi Arabia for seven years to save money so that I could build a house in Syria. Every day the army knocked on our door, and said: ‘Help us or we will kill you.’ Minding our own business was not a choice. We left with nothing but our clothes.” (Lesvos, Greece)
“I lived in Mosul under ISIS. One of my neighbors reported me for shaving my beard. They dragged me into the center of the city and made me kneel. When the first lash hit me, the pain was so bad that it felt like my soul left my body. They lashed me twelve times. I lost consciousness before it ended and woke up in bed.” (Salzburg, Austria)
“I lived in Mosul under ISIS. One of my neighbors reported me for shaving my beard. They dragged me into the center of the city and made me kneel. When the first lash hit me, the pain was so bad that it felt like my soul left my body. They lashed me twelve times. I lost consciousness before it ended and woke up in bed.” (Salzburg, Austria)

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