Lydia Emmanouilidou

Lydia Emmanouilidou is a former reporter for the World.

Lydia Emmanouilidou is a fomer reporter for The World based in Athens, Greece. She covered stories about human rights, migration, the far-right, technology, digital privacy and other issues, with a focus on the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Before joining The World, Emmanouilidou worked for NPR’s investigative unit, where she contributed to several award-winning series. She has also worked as a higher education and general assignment reporter and producer for WGBH in Boston. 

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson arrives for a meeting of EU justice and interior ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021.

EU's top migration official calls for global response to help Afghans in order to avoid migration crisis in Europe

Ylva Johansson, home affairs commissioner for the European Union, joined The World's host Marco Werman to discuss the EU's plans to avoid a repeat migration crisis like the one experienced in 2015.

EU's top migration official calls for global response to help Afghans in order to avoid migration crisis in Europe
A view of Athens from above showning the city and in the distance large dark smoke clouds filling the sky.

Athens’ first-ever chief heat officer says historic heat wave feels ominous, like a 'prequel' of the city's future

Athens’ first-ever chief heat officer says historic heat wave feels ominous, like a 'prequel' of the city's future
Vegan Beat storefront

Gyro is the ‘holy grail’ of Greek fast food. An Athens restaurant offers a vegan alternative.

Gyro is the ‘holy grail’ of Greek fast food. An Athens restaurant offers a vegan alternative.
A concrete walkway has been paved on the Acropolis plateau in an effort to make the site more accessible. But critics say materials used would make it impossible to remove the pathway without damaging the ancient bedrock underneath.

'They want to make the Acropolis into Disneyland.' Site renovations face backlash. 

'They want to make the Acropolis into Disneyland.' Site renovations face backlash. 
White tents of campsite against a blue sky

In Greece, thousands of asylum-seekers are waiting for the COVID-19 vaccine

In Greece, thousands of asylum-seekers are waiting for the COVID-19 vaccine
Greek and Cypriot flags flutter on poles on the left, as Turkish and Turkish Cypriot breakaway flags fly between minarets on the right

As Cyprus' leaders convene for peace talks in Geneva, some Cypriots say 'expectations are low'

Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders, along with other stakeholders, are discussing potential solutions to what’s widely known as the “Cyprus issue.” 

As Cyprus' leaders convene for peace talks in Geneva, some Cypriots say 'expectations are low'
The Aegean Sea is shown from Lesbos. Increasingly, migrants and advocates claim, Greek authorities are illegally pushing back to Turkey people who are making the journey to Greece in the Aegean Sea. 

'People are being abandoned in the middle of the sea': Claims that Greece pushes back migrants to Turkey are rising

Greek authorities have strongly denied those claims. Evidence and pressure, though, are mounting. 

'People are being abandoned in the middle of the sea': Claims that Greece pushes back migrants to Turkey are rising
For one of their projects, children were asked to draw two worlds: the reality they live in today and an imaginary world they would like for themselves, and then connect the two with a bridge.

A mental health crisis on Lesbos is worsening 

Reports of suicide attempts within the refugee population are up, as are other symptoms related to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Meanwhile, virtually all mental services on the island are at capacity. 

A mental health crisis on Lesbos is worsening 
The new migrant facility on Lesbos will be built next to an active landfill, according to a map published by local media in the fall.

‘This island is a prison’: Migrants say plan for a refugee camp on Lesbos is too isolating

The European Union has announced a quarter-billion euros in funding for five new refugee camps on Greek islands, including on Lesbos. Some are worried the new site will not improve conditions for migrants on the island. 

‘This island is a prison’: Migrants say plan for a refugee camp on Lesbos is too isolating
A migrant stands outside his tent at Karatepe refugee camp, on the northeastern Aegean island of Lesbos, Greece, March 29, 2021. The European Union's home affairs commissioner is visiting asylum-seeker facilities on the eastern Greek islands of Samos and

Activists protest migrant facility plan in Greece: ‘Greek islands will not be turned to prisons’ 

A group of residents gathered in the port city of Mytilene to protest plans for a permanent migrant facility on the island. 

Activists protest migrant facility plan in Greece: ‘Greek islands will not be turned to prisons’ 
An administrative worker explains to people how to fill up the national vaccination certificate in a vaccination center in Strasbourg, France, March 18, 2021. France is set to announce new coronavirus restrictions on Thursday, including a potential lockdo

The EU proposes certificates to ease travel during the pandemic. Not everyone is on board.

People who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who have tested negative for the virus as well as those who have recovered from it would receive a certificate. 

The EU proposes certificates to ease travel during the pandemic. Not everyone is on board.
Riot police detain a man during clashes in the northern city of Thessaloniki, Greece, March 11, 2021.

Greek police roll out new ‘smart’ devices that recognize faces and fingerprints

Greek authorities say the technology will make police checks more efficient, but critics are sounding the alarm about potential abuses. 

Greek police roll out new ‘smart’ devices that recognize faces and fingerprints
A medical worker gives a shot of the Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to a woman during the vaccination in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 17, 2021. 

Serbia lets people choose their COVID-19 vaccine. Some call it a ‘political ballot.’

Although some Serbians see it as a big win for the country — and a rare victory at that — others are critical of what they see as the politicization of vaccines.

Serbia lets people choose their COVID-19 vaccine. Some call it a ‘political ballot.’
Greek Olympic sailing champion Sofia Bekatorou poses for a photograph during an interview for The Associated Press, at Agios Kosmas marina in southern Athens, Feb. 4, 2021. Bekatorou is the most successful female athlete in Greek sporting history who rece

Greece ‘finally’ has its #MeToo moment 

An Olympic medalist’s sexual assault allegations against a former coach have opened up a conversation about gender roles, discrimination, power dynamics and everyday sexism in Greek society.

Greece ‘finally’ has its #MeToo moment 
In this Feb. 8, 2011, file photo, a leader of Egypt's anti-government protesters, Egyptian Wael Ghonim, center, 30, a Google Inc. marketing manager who was a key organizer of the online campaign that sparked the first protest on Jan. 25.

Arab uprisings: What role did social media really play?

The revolts a decade ago were among the first major protests in the age of omnipresent mobile phones, with social-network revolutions powered by Twitter and Facebook.

Arab uprisings: What role did social media really play?