human-rights, humanity, social-injustice, activism, nonfiction, immigrants, emmigrants, hardship, organizational-failures, volunteers, memories, Greece, Greek-heritage, green-politics, grief, grieving, emotional-support, refugees, refugee-camps*****

Back in 2000, Andrea Camilleri and other fiction writers wrote of the desperate problems of those who came by leaky boats to the island of Sicily. Today's news continues in this vein, but in 2015 it was Greece that was overcome with the same problems. But the various Red Cross agencies and the UN were oblivious. Not-so-ordinary individuals, however came to Greece to do what they could and then some. Skills learned in other venues were put to the use of saving lives and more in superhuman ways by foreigners and locals alike. This is their story, and all of it is true. Read it if you dare. ( )

What a fascinating and wonderful book Sachs has written about ....volunteers and the subject of volunteering. Those of us who have NOT done any volunteering certainly have a glowing idea of these wonderful people who literally jump into situations that are literally and figuratively absolutely overwhelming....and yet, as Sachs clearly shows....over time...thank goodness for the efforts because, in her expansive writing about the situation in Greece in 2015 and beyond, the numbers of migrants and refugees grew beyond anyone's comprehension....and perhaps especially by the typical organizations one might think would be "in charge" to help solve such complete misery. Everyone just expected someone to be...in charge....but it just didn't happen. This book is beautifully written because Sachs follows just a few families and individuals through their arrival and surrender of everything in their lives while they waited, and waited, and suffered....with only their hope that eventually things would change and they would finally be re-established as human beings who could go on with their lives rather than living in truly inhumane conditions for month after month....lacking the most basic supplies for any kind of safety, comfort, warmth, clothing and on and on. So many needs for so many people. Sachs makes you know some of the people who were volunteers as well as some of the individuals and families they were working with. It's really amazing what Sachs was able to pull together and write about in such a compelling and very readable book that represents, sadly, what is constantly happening in so many places in this world. We're all a part of the problem as well as the possible solution. ( )

Eye-opening and very readable account of the refugee crisis in Greece and how volunteers from all over the world stepped in, rolled up their sleeves, and helped alleviate suffering while Greece, the rest of the EU and the big NGOs were slow or sluggish to help. The title said it all. The author followed two Syrian families, several grassroots volunteers, and several migrants themselves from their flight from their home countries and the horrific conditions they endured in Greece. The author even went to Greece, helped, and met some of the people whose stories she told in her book. Some DPs were successful in reaching Europe in spite of both border closings and a cruel Turkish/Greek agreement restricting the inflow of migrants to Greece. I assume the crisis is still with us although not "newsworthy" anymore. I consider this book a "must-read." ( )