Arriving to Europe
It's a small step in a long and uncertain escape from civil war and the Islamic State in Syria and difficult circumstances in other nations — but perhaps one of the most emotional.
The beaches of Sikamia (pronounced si-kam-YAH) on the eastern Greek island of Lesbos are Europe's busiest landing point for people desperate to reach the continent.
On a typical day, more than 20 dinghies and boats arrive here, packed mostly with people who cannot swim.
New arrivals face a three-day mountainous trek to island's main town before the start-stop journey begins in earnest across countries that do little to make them feel welcome.
But before it all begins again, there's a brief moment to celebrate on the beaches of Lesbos.
Parents hug their young children, many showing an outburst of relief and emotion, a sight that leaves few who scramble over rocks to record it unaffected.
Here is a gallery of images by Associated Press Photographer Petros Giannakouris capturing scenes of people arriving in Europe.
Text from the AP news story, AP PHOTOS: For newest arrivals to Europe lots of emotion, by Petros Giannakouris.
Follow Petros Giannakouris: Twitter | Instagram
Spotlight is the blog of AP Images, the world’s largest collection of historical and contemporary photos. AP Images provides instant access to AP’s iconic photos and adds new content every minute of every day from every corner of the world, making it an essential source of photos and graphics for professional image buyers and commercial customers. Whether your needs are for editorial, commercial, or personal use, AP Images has the content and the expert sales team to fulfill your image requirements. Visit apimages.com to learn more.
Written content on this site is not created by the editorial department of AP, unless otherwise noted.
AP Images on Twitter | AP Images on Facebook | AP Images on Instagram