'Lesbos Granny' who aided Europe-bound refugees dies at 96
ABC News
One of three older Greek women who gained international attention for helping refugees on the island of Lesbos has died at age 96
ATHENS, Greece -- Efstratia Mavrapidou, who was part of a trio of older Greek women who gained international attention at the height of Europe's most recent mass migration wave for helping refugees on the island of Lesbos, has died at age 96.
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou described Mavrapidou on social media as "simple, sweet, and deeply human.”
Mavrapidou, her cousin Maritsa Mavrapidou and their friend Aimilia Kamvyssi became known as the “Lesbos Grannies” after they were photographed caring for a baby who had crossed from Turkey in a boat and landed on an island beach in 2015.
The incident came at a time when about 1 million people from war-torn Syria and other countries had reached Greece, hoping to move on to seek better lives in Europe's prosperous heartland.
