Just four nautical miles from Turkey, Pserimos, a small island in the Aegean Sea, is home to few amenities, with no pharmacy, supermarket, or bank.
Despite being part of the municipality of Kalymnos, the island faces significant challenges, including a lack of essential services and isolation.
The island’s only school is attended by just four students: Taxiarchis, Panormitis, Galatiani, and Eleftheria. Their mothers spoke with SKAI about life on the island, their hardships, and their deep-rooted connections to the land. “We don’t feel forgotten; we are forgotten,” one mother said, expressing the difficult reality of island life.
She shared that the island’s residents are asking for necessities like a doctor and better services. “How long can ten grandparents keep the island going?” she asked, referring to the older generation maintaining the island’s population. The mother emphasized that the island’s future is uncertain if the residents, particularly those from Kalymnos, don’t return to Pserimos.
Winter poses additional challenges, with limited job opportunities. “In winter, the women can’t do anything. The men are in construction or working in the fields,” she explained.
A dire concern for the community is the lack of healthcare services. “We’ve made our homes dispensaries and pharmacies,” one woman remarked, noting that a doctor is typically available only from May to October. “If a child gets sick and has a fever, it’s over,” she added, highlighting the isolation and vulnerability of residents. The community is also seeking help to make basic utilities more affordable.
Pserimos depends heavily on supplies from Kalymnos, transported by the Maniae boat. “If this boat is unavailable, Pserimos is finished,” one woman warned. During severe weather, the Coast Guard assists with transporting residents in need, but the island still faces significant logistical and infrastructural challenges.
To prevent Pserimos from being abandoned and neglected, residents are calling for immediate attention to their needs, ensuring the survival of the island’s community.
Jeff Bezos is vacationing in Pserimos with his fiancée Lauren Sanchez
