Today is the day after the bombing at the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. There have been notable consequences here on the north coast of Lesbos. Yesterday was very stormy — up to force 10 winds and so few boats came, just 252 people, compared with the average of this month so far, which is over 1000 people a day.
It has been great weather today, the calm after the storm, bright and blue with calm waters. Many boats were expected to make the trip but there have been none (as of writing at about 4pm). We learned from various sources during our shift on Lighthouse beach, that the Turkish navy turned back 8 boats setting out towards us this morning. They also arrested some Spanish lifeguards (true action heroes Pro Activa) who were monitoring the refugee boats. It is assumed that this unusual level of activity by the Turks is the result of the bombing in Istanbul.
This afternoon the Hopkins, sorting stuff in the women and children’s tent, met a Dutch couple out walking their various dogs and children in the sunshine. They live nearby overlooking the beach. They moved here permanently in August and found themselves immediately and very directly caught up in the crisis.
“We’d be finishing lunch on the terrace and see one, two, three boats coming and would drive down to the beach. It was just us then and a box of clothes. Then the Drops [in the Ocean] came, and now there are tents, lookouts and everything.”
We told them about the Turkish navy patrolling the coast today and turning the trafficker’s boats back -
“It was the same after Paris. There were no boats for a week.” The couple guessed that the refugee boats will stop for two or three days following the bombing. The Turks have to be seen to be earning the €3.5 billion they have been paid by the EU to corall the refugees and prevent them leaving Turkey.
It seems that after a short time normal business will be resumed: the traffickers will pay off the authorities to turn a blind eye and continue to make profit from desperate people. Refugees pay €1000–2000 to cross, plus are made to buy bogus lifejackets at €500 as a condition of sail.
