Many immigrants flowing into Europe recently have entered via Greece, having made a short but often dangerous journey across the sea from Turkey with
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Many immigrants flowing into Europe recently have entered via Greece, having made a short but often dangerous journey across the sea from Turkey with the help of people smugglers.
From Bektas on the Turkish coast it is just 20km to the Greek island of Lesbos.
Syrian journalist Ali Hafez and his family made the voyage on Monday, having fled the war still raging in their home country.
He was able to film the perilous trip in an overcrowded inflatable dinghy.
Near the Lesbos coast a couple in a boat threw the migrants a rope, and the relief in reaching their destination was huge.
Ali and his family made it safely, but many others have not been so lucky.
Many have drowned, while others are fortunate enough to have been rescued.
The same day in the same waters a Greek passenger ferry saved 35 migrants including young children and a toddler. Their boat had been sinking and many of the passengers were already overboard when help arrived.
Recent images of dead children being washed up on beaches has highlighted the desperate plight of the migrants and the risks they take in search of security and a better life, but still they come.
Aid agencies estimate that around 2000 people a day are making the perilous voyage from Turkey to Greece.