Konstantinos Mitragas of the Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT) and Efi Latsoudi of the PIKPA village are joint 2016 winners of the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award, which recognises extraordinary humanitarian work on behalf of refugees, internally displaced and stateless people. During the 2015 refugee crisis, they saved lives and provided a safe haven for thousands of the most vulnerable refugees arriving on Greek shores.
Worked day and night
Konstantinos Mitragas is a sea captain and secretary general of HRT. He is being awarded on behalf of this 2,000 strong volunteer sea rescue team. In 2015 they worked day and night, and undertook 1,035 rescue operations, saving 2,500 lives, and assisting more than 7,000 people to safety.
“2015 was the most difficult year we have ever faced as a rescue team. We lived absolute horror. There were many casualties, among them many children, which is the thing that affects you most,” said Konstantinos Mitragas. “I believe it’s something in your heart that moves you and makes you volunteer, and I can say our volunteers are heroes. No matter where someone comes from, or their religion, as a rescue organisation we have to be there. We have to be united in periods of crisis.”
I believe it’s something in your heart that moves you and makes you volunteer, and I can say our volunteers are heroes.Konstantinos Mitragas, winner of Nansen Refugee Award
"It has to do with solidarity"
Efi Latsoudi is awarded for her work at the PIKPA village on the Greek island of Lesvos. The centre provides a safe and welcoming environment on the island for vulnerable refugees. This includes women who have lost children during the crossing, and people with physical disabilities. During the peak of the crisis, PIKPA hosted around 600 refugees a day, four times the capacity of the village, distributing over 2,000 meals each day.
“For me supporting refugees is not something exceptional, it’s something that we have to do. I think the reason that Greek and international volunteers come to the island every day has to do with solidarity. I think this is something that comes in our blood. There is a face of Europe that is very human and it’s amazing. It can do miracles and this is a miracle,” said Efi Latsoudi.
For me supporting refugees is not something exceptional, it’s something that we have to do.Efi Latsoudi, winner of Nansen Refugee Award
More than 10,000 per day
Over 850,000 people arrived in Greece by sea in 2015, with more than 500,000 of these arriving on the Lesvos Island. In October 2015, arrivals peaked at more than 10,000 per day, as conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq continued to uproot people from their homes. Sadly, over 270 people died in Greek waters over the year.
The award is a recognition of all those who have volunteered to help people forced to flee their homes, welcomed refugees, and assisted with integration.
“The efforts of dedicated individuals show that there is hope for our European civilisation. Efi Latsoudi and Konstantinos Mitragas are living examples of our power to insist on humanity,” said Jan Egeland.
The winners will receive the award at a ceremony in Geneva on 3 October, hosted by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), and the Swiss and Norwegian governments.
