Nicole Tung

Photographer

www.nicoletung.com

A Season of Migration

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Location: Istanbul

Nationality: American

Biography: Nicole Tung is a freelance photojournalist. She graduated from New York University, double majoring in history and journalism, and freelances for international publications and NGOs, working primarily in the Middle East and Asia. After covering... MORE

Over 1 million refugees and migrants have reached Europe's shores in 2015, overwhelming the continent and presenting the worst refugee crisis since World War II. Many thousands have been fleeing from conflict in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, while thousands of others, from Bangladesh, Iran, and Pakistan seek better livelihoods. The recent Euro 3bn deal struck between Turkey and the EU, intended to stanch the flow of people, has resulted in Turkish authorities cracking down on the smugglers and rounding up refugees, preventing them from making the sea crossing, but some continue to try despite the high number of fatalities.

A boat filled with refugees and...om Turkey on December 4, 2015.

A boat filled with refugees and migrants, mostly from Syria, arrives on the shores of Lesbos, Greece, after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey on December 4, 2015.

A man comforts his crying son s...for refugees fleeing conflict.

A man comforts his crying son shortly after arriving on the shores of Lesbos, Greece, on November 17, 2015. The roughly 1.5 hour boat ride between Turkey's western coastline and the closest Greek island has cost anywhere between $900-3000 per person. With winter approaching, the weather also becomes more unpredictable, causing further confusion and fear for refugees fleeing conflict.

A boat mountain of discarded li..., Greece, on December 3, 2015.

A boat mountain of discarded lifejackets used by refugees and migrants crossing the Aegean Sea are seen at a dump on Lesbos, Greece, on December 3, 2015.

A rubber dingy, packed with ref...r refugees arriving in Greece.

A rubber dingy, packed with refugees mostly from Syria, is assisted to shore in Lesbos, Greece, on November 16, 2015, after having crossed the Aegean Sea from Turkey. Nearby is a small wooden boat previously used by other refugees arriving in Greece.

A father carries his son off a ...raffickers on the Turkish side.

A father carries his son off a rubber dinghy after arriving on the island of Lesbos, Greece, on November 12, 2015. The roughly 1.5 hours journey across the Aegean Sea, on a clear day, costs from anywhere between $900-$3000 per person paid to traffickers on the Turkish side.

A Yazidi refugee washes her dau...d of a wash and clean diapers.

A Yazidi refugee washes her daughter in the sea shortly after arriving on Lesbos, Greece, on November 13, 2015. After a long journey, the toddler was badly in need of a wash and clean diapers.

Kurdish refugees warm themselve...om Turkey on December 8, 2015.

Kurdish refugees warm themselves on the beach shortly after arriving on the shores of Lesbos, Greece, after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey on December 8, 2015.

Volunteers attempt to assist a ...for the return back to Turkey.

Volunteers attempt to assist a small wooden boat, packed with refugees, to shore in Lesbos, Greece, on November 16, 2015. The boat cut its engine about 50 meters from the shore without a clear reason. After all of the refugees had alighted from the boat, the engine was restarted and began making its way back to Turkey. It was discovered that the Turkish smuggler remained hidden on board to save himself for the return back to Turkey.

A refugee family, with nothing ...aking the crossing from Turkey.

A refugee family, with nothing but the clothes on their backs, makes the several kilometers walk towards a transit center in Lesbos, Greece, on November 12, 2015, shortly after making the crossing from Turkey.

Refugees prepare to camp in the... Greece, on November 13, 2015.

Refugees prepare to camp in the open near a registration center at the Moria transit camp in Lesbos, Greece, on November 13, 2015.

Refugees and migrants from Afgh... Greece, on November 16, 2015.

Refugees and migrants from Afghanistan and Syria wait for registration numbers at the Moria transit camp in Lesbos, Greece, on November 16, 2015.

A family salvages a baby carria...ly transferred back to Athens.

A family salvages a baby carriage near the border between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on December 10, 2015. The previous day, a makeshift camp there with migrants from Morocco, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan, and elsewhere - which had been occupied for weeks - was cleared by the Greek police as Europe turns back those who are not specifically fleeing war. Refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan are being permitted through to continue the route to Western Europe, whilst other nationalities are being directly transferred back to Athens.

Refugees and migrants wait to c...ly transferred back to Athens.

Refugees and migrants wait to cross the border between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on December 10, 2015. The previous day, a makeshift camp there with migrants from Morocco, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan, and elsewhere - which had been occupied for weeks - was cleared by the Greek police as Europe turns back those who are not specifically fleeing war. Refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan are being permitted through to continue the route to Western Europe, whilst other nationalities are being directly transferred back to Athens.

Hundreds of refugees and migran...on papers on December 8, 2015.

Hundreds of refugees and migrants wait to board a ferry from Mytilini, Lesbos, to Athens, after receiving their registration papers on December 8, 2015.

A family sleeps wherever they c...ts for the 10 hour ferry ride.

A family sleeps wherever they can find space on the ferry from Lesbos to Athens on December 19, 2015. Because many refugee families cannot afford regular priced seats, they are forced to opt for the cheapest tickets for the 10 hour ferry ride.

Tariq, left, Nisreen, and their...Germany, on December 19, 2015.

Tariq, left, Nisreen, and their five-year old daughter Roslyn, are seen on the day-long bus ride from Athens to the Greek-Macedonian border in the far north, as they continue their journey from Syria to Germany, on December 19, 2015.

Refugees warm themselves by a s...grants crossing at the border.

Refugees warm themselves by a self-made fire during another long stop at a roadside pit-stop on the journey from Athens to the Greek-Macedonian border on December 19, 2015. In the background are a fleet of buses, all carrying migrants on the same journey. In total, the bus ride took 24 hours because of police attempting to better control the flow of the migrants crossing at the border.

Refugees are seen walking on th...acedonia on December 20, 2015.

Refugees are seen walking on the railway tracks on the Macedonian side shortly after crossing the border between Greece and Macedonia on December 20, 2015.