Today, the “Kurtuluş” arrives—the “Kurtuluş” that will go down in legend. “Kurtuluş” means “Salvation,” and it truly lives up to its name. How many lives has it saved! It makes continuous trips back and forth from Turkey, bringing legumes, preserved foods, and eggs. Thanks to this ship, hospitals can keep functioning, and soup kitchens can continue to operate. It is a lifeline, ensuring that children, the destitute, and even government workers can have something to eat.
Deaths from starvation have decreased significantly this month, as noted by Mr. Georgiadis, Professor of Forensic Medicine. It’s all thanks to the food arriving from Turkey. You still see those haunting figures in the streets, reminiscent of an El Greco painting—emaciated, childlike bodies barely able to stand. There are still people lying on the pavements, groaning and crying out, “I’m hungry.” But it’s encouraging to see that the extreme suffering we witnessed in November and December is no longer as widespread.
Irini Zacharia, Occupation Diary 1941-1943, Athens 2016