Musa* arrived in Greece alone. He was 16. After fleeing Afghanistan on foot, he crossed the Evros River, which runs along the border between Greece and Turkey. His first encounter in Greece was with the police.
Thousands of unaccompanied children, like Musa, travel to and across Europe, through mountainous terrain and across dangerous seas in flimsy boats. They hope to reach countries where they a have chance of finding safety and asylum, and to be reunited with lost family. Musa has an older brother living in Germany.
Musa had been in Greece only hours when the police arrested him and locked him in a cell with adults. They confiscated all of his belongings including the small amount of money he had and his identity documents. The police refused to help him request asylum. After being locked up for a week, Musa was released onto the streets, alone.
