TURKEY-GREECE BORDER: Satellite Images Show Refugee Crisis

Thousands of refugees wait patiently in line at the Turkey border, as they await passage into Greece.

Satellite images captured early on 3 March, 2020 with WorldView-3 by European Space Imaging, show long lines of refugees on the road, numerous buses and trucks, as well as temporary housing facilities scattered adjacent to the road, extending well into the nearby forest.

Several buses on the road towards the border are clearly identifiable, correlating with reports that refugees are being bused to the area. In addition, numerous smaller vehicles with crowds of people surrounding can be seen. This could be indicative of aid support in the area. For security and safety, the border is being closely monitored by Frontex to mitigate any crises that could arise. “We are looking at other ways to help EU countries that border Turkey,” the agency said.

“Very High Resolution satellite imagery is both a cost-effective and time-efficient method of monitoring European borders as it allows identification of small objects in near real-time,” said Adrian Zevenbergen, Managing Director, European Space Imaging. “Country borders can run across long distances of differing terrain and people are small. Monitoring these areas frequently enables us to track refugee movements in order to ensure their safety.”

European Space Imaging will continue to monitor this situation and make images available as soon as possible.

Satellite image at 30 cm resolution showing overview of refugees, tents, trucks, buses and aid relief at the Turkey / Greece Border. Captured 03/03/2020 by WorldView-3 © European Space Imaging

Satellite image at 30 cm resolution showing lines of refugees on the road at the Turkey / Greece Border. Captured 03/03/2020 by WorldView-3 © European Space Imaging

Satellite image at 30 cm resolution showing buses, trucks and potential aid relief zone at the Turkey / Greece Border. Captured 03/03/2020 by WorldView-3 © European Space Imaging

Satellite image at 30 cm resolution showing potential aid relief zone set up at a crossroads near the Turkey / Greece Border. Captured 03/03/2020 by WorldView-3 © European Space Imaging

Related Stories

Banner saying: "Webinar: Turning Satellite Data into Actionable Intelligence for Critical Energy Infrastructure"

GEOSeries: Turning Satellite Data into Actionable Intelligence for Critical Energy Infrastructure

See how satellite imagery can make critical infrastructure monitoring more frequent, targeted and efficient. Monitoring hundreds or thousands of kilometres of pipelines, power lines and other critical infrastructure traditionally requires extensive field inspections, vehicle patrols or aerial surveys. Satellite-based monitoring offers a different approach: regularly analysing large networks, identifying potential risks and directing teams to the locations that require attention.

Read More »
wildfire

VHR Satellite Images for Wildfire Monitoring 

High temperatures are breaking records, vegetation is drying up, and catastrophic wildfires are raging across Europe. Emergency responders are already turning to satellite imagery for fire monitoring and damage analysis – but few know its full potential. Near Real-Time (NRT) capabilities deliver critical images just 15 minutes after collection. Intraday imaging captures a fire as it develops throughout the day. And 8-band multispectral imagery lets responders see through haze, light fog, and other atmospheric conditions – including wildfire smoke itself.

Read More »
Nature Restoration

Earth Observation Turns Ecological Targets into Measurable Outcomes: How Satellite Imagery Supports Compliance with Europe’s Nature Restoration Regulation

The EU’s Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) entered into force in 2024 and set legally binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems across Europe. With National Restoration Plans due in September 2026, Member States face an urgent question: how do you map, plan and monitor restoration across millions of hectares in a consistent, verifiable way? Earth Observation (EO) – and Very High Resolution (VHR) multispectral satellite imagery in particular – is increasingly the answer.

Read More »