See How Refugees Use Selfies to Document Their Journey

  • Refugees take a selfie after arriving on the island of Lesbos in Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • A cellphone protected by plastic. Lesbos, Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • Refugees take a selfie after arriving on the island of Lesbos in Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • A cellphone protected by plastic. Lesbos, Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • Refugees take photos on their cellphones after arriving on the island of Lesbos in Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • A cellphone protected by plastic. Lesbos, Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • Refugees take a selfie after arriving on the island of Lesbos in Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • A cellphone protected by plastic. Lesbos, Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • Refugees take a selfie after arriving on the island of Lesbos in Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • A cellphone protected by plastic. Lesbos, Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • Refugees take photos on their cellphones after arriving on the island of Lesbos in Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • A cellphone protected by plastic. Lesbos, Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • Refugees take photos on their cellphones after arriving on the island of Lesbos in Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • A cellphone protected by plastic. Lesbos, Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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  • Refugees take photos and send messages on their cellphones after arriving on the island of Lesbos in Greece.
    Patrick Witty for TIME
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By Olivier Laurent
October 8, 2015 7:43 AM EDT

Refugees fleeing war-torn territory have come to rely on their phones to make a passage to a better life. They use messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Viber and Line to communicate with loved ones back home.

On the coast of Lesbos, Greece, the moment refugees land safely ashore, smartphones appear and the taking of selfies begins. “We want memories from the bad trip we had,” says Mehar Ahmed Aloussi, 30, from Damascus. “When I go and settle down in another country, I want to remember my way.”

Read the full story on how the smartphone is the refugee’s best friend.

Patrick Witty is a multimedia journalist and photo editor. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @patrickwitty

Olivier Laurent, who edited these photo essays, is the editor of TIME LightBox. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @olivierclaurent

Contact us at letters@time.com.

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