GILES CLARKE

During 2015, the influx of refugees and migrants to Europe reached staggering new levels and dominated headlines that has prompted stormy political debate ever since. That year, the main route shifted from the dangerous Mediterranean crossing from Libya to Italy, to what would prove to be an even deadlier crossing from Turkey to Greek islands such as Lesvos and Lampedusa. 

After arriving in Greece.many simply walked north heading for Germany and Sweden in particular. The route took them through Macedonia, Serbia toward Hungary and beyond. 

During 2015 alone more than 920,000 refugees and migrants had arrived on European shores since the year began and some 3,550 lives had been lost during the journey. Over 75 per cent of those that arrived and were registered in Europe had fled conflict and persecution in Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq. 

Refugees make their way through cabbage fields near Presevo, Serbia.
Refugees make their way through cabbage fields near Presevo, Serbia.
Refugees wait outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Preöevo, Serbia.
From left, Ismail Al-Ahmad, Ahmed Hameh, Rodi Hameh and Mohammad Hameh wait to be picked up by a Croatian Border Police mini-van in Sid, Serbia, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. (Photo by Giles Clarke/Getty Images Reportage)..The group of Four Kurdish Syrian family

Refugees wander and wait to be picked up by a Croatian Border Police mini-van in Sid, Serbia.

Refugees inside Opatovac refugee transit camp in Croatia.
Refugees inside Opatovac refugee transit camp in Croatia.
Thousands of refugees wait outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia...

Thousands of refugees wait outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia.

Tension mounts at the Presevo refugee transit camp in Presevo, Serbia.
Tension mounts at the Presevo refugee transit camp in Presevo, Serbia.
Thousands of refugees wait outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia.
Thousands of refugees wait outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia.
Refugees wait outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia,..

Refugees wait outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia.

A disabled woman boards a Hungary-bound train in Tovarnik, Croatia.
A disabled woman boards a Hungary-bound train in Tovarnik, Croatia.
A refugee family boards a train at Tovarnik, Croatia.
A refugee family boards a train at Tovarnik, Croatia.
Refugee families waiting on a bus in Presevo, Serbia.
A mother and her young child wait outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia.
A mother and her young child wait outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia.
Thousands of refugees wait outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia...

Thousands of refugees wait outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia.

Refugees being processed inside Opatovac refugee transit camp in Croatia.
Refugees being processed inside Opatovac refugee transit camp in Croatia.
An UNHCR list of refugee aslyum centers in Serbia.
An Afghan family camping outside the Presevo refugee transit camp in Presevo, Serbia.
Refugees inside the Presevo refugee transit camp in Presevo, Serbia.
Refugees inside the Presevo refugee transit camp in Presevo, Serbia.
Thousands of refugees wait inside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia..

Thousands of refugees wait inside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia.

Young Afghan refugees inside a tent in Belgrade, Serbia.
Young Afghan refugees inside a tent in Belgrade, Serbia.
Refugee families boarding a bus in Presevo, Serbia.
Refugee families boarding a bus in Presevo, Serbia.
Blankets inside a refugee tent at the Opatovac refugee transit camp in Croatia.
Blankets inside a refugee tent at the Opatovac refugee transit camp in Croatia.
A female refugee smokes outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia.
A female refugee smokes outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia.
Young Afghan refugees wash and shave at a mobile water-truck in a makeshift camp in the center of Belgrade, Serbia.
Young Afghan refugees wash and shave at a mobile water-truck in a makeshift camp in the center of Belgrade, Serbia.
An injured refugee waits outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia.
An injured refugee waits outside a transit camp in order to be registered by Serbian authorities in Presevo, Serbia.
A child sits inside a tent at the makeshift refugee camp in Presevo, Serbia.
A Syrian refugee family walking in Presevo, Serbia.
A Syrian refugee family walking in Presevo, Serbia.
Clothes are hung up to dry in a makeshift camp in the center of Belgrade, Serbia.
Clothes are hung up to dry in a makeshift camp in the center of Belgrade, Serbia.
Using Format