Stranded in Greece (inside the military camps & beyond)

Reportage made in the summer of 2016 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

What else is there to say which has not been covered for the hundredth time since the borders closed for the refugees this March 2016?

Still, so many families who were living near the Greek/Macedonian border in the village of Idomeni are still stranded in Greece but as of today, most have been relocated inside Greek military camps. All waiting for their registration process to go through, to legally further continue their journey through Europe. This is the case for the Al Ali family from Syria with 7 children and their extended family, currently living inside the Softex military camp in the city of Thessaloniki.

Mother, Amina and father Mohamad of 7 children, Kahdiga, Wafaa, Shaed, Wesam Raefaa, Rahaf and Ibrahim, all aged respectively, 15, 14, 11, 8, 6, 4, 2 years. The family come from the city of Idleb in Syria and had to leave their home on February 28th due to severe bombing. They had to live in an underground shelter for 3 weeks and then endure a 5 hour walk from Syria to Turkey. From the Turkish coast, the Al Alis took a boat to the Greek island of Samos and finally a bus up north to Idomeni this past March. Upon their arrival to the border, before crossing over, they waited a few days for the brother of Amina, Muhammad, who had been captured by the Turkish police. Unfortunately, during these three days, the Greek/Macedonia border suddenly closed. The Syrian family suddenly became stranded in the Idomeni camp in a crowded tent with 100 other people. Although the conditions in Idomeni were better than where they are currently staying. On the 31st of May, the camp was evacuated by the Greek police and the family was obligated to move into the Softex military camp in the city of Thessaloniki. Their four year old daughter Rahaf had not only caught a chest infection due to the poor condition of the military camp, which was treated with antibiotics, but also has an underlying and severe asthma condition for which she requires regular ventilan treatments with either a puffer or ventilator machine. On her fourth week of being at the Softex, Rahaf was…