Mina Simpson
Mina is a transgender Lebanese doctor who is torn between her commitment to her homeland and her newfound home in the United States. She is a compassionate and dedicated doctor who is willing to go above and beyond to assist individuals in need. Even though she may not always agree with the camp leaders' decisions, she respects their authority. She is able to use her medical knowledge and expertise to assist the refugees while also listening to their tales and providing emotional support.
She has a strong moral compass and seeks to defend her principles even when the odds are stacked against her. For example, when Sumaiya refuses to tell her family about her illness, Mina respects her wishes and does not inform anyone. Mina jeopardizes her health and safety by remaining in the refugee camp to care for Sumaiya.
She is incredibly empathic and can connect with people from many backgrounds, despite coming from a different culture. She acts as a liaison between the Western volunteers and the refugees, and she is able to communicate with both groups.
Mina's Friend
Mina's friend is the one who manages the NGO and is a kind, motivated, and driven lady who has dedicated her life to aiding refugees. She is a woman with strong convictions and principles who is not afraid to stand up for what is right. She is highly organized and efficient, and she can handle the NGO and its workers with a steady hand. She is a respected leader among those who report to her.
Mina's friend is also quite aware of the refugee issue in general and can give Mina vital insight into the predicament of the refugees and the many organizations and individuals working to help them. She is passionate about her work and is often frustrated by the lack of governmental support and resources available to them. She is also an understanding friend to Mina who supports her in her efforts to help the refugees.
Allameddine
Allameddine is a perceptive and caring individual who is genuinely moved by the predicament of the Syrian refugees in the camp. He is a Lebanese-American writer who has spent the last few years interviewing and recording the lives of Middle Eastern refugees. Allameddine is caring, perceptive, and unafraid to speak out against injustice. He is also a reflective and introspective person, frequently pausing to analyze his feelings and intentions, as well as the consequences of his actions on others around him.
Allameddine is not immune to the pain he sees around him and is greatly impacted by the experiences of individuals he encounters in the camp. He is aware of his privilege, his relative safety, and his inability to do more for those he meets in the camp. Allameddine also has a deep sense of justice and is enraged by the injustices he sees all around him. He is determined to do whatever he can to help, even if it is only to tell the stories of those in the camp and spread awareness of their plight.
Mina's wife
Mina's wife Francine is strong, supportive, and sympathetic. She is the one who pushes Mina to go to Lesbos and understands Mina's need to help in this catastrophe. She has seen directly what prejudice and discrimination can do, and she is determined not to let it happen to anybody else. She is an excellent listener and a calming influence in Mina's life, and she is always willing to drop everything to be there for Mina when she needs it.
Francine is also a huge source of strength for Mina in her challenges; when Mina is homesick or feeling overwhelmed, Francine is there to tell her that she is loved and supported. Francine's supportive and loving nature can be shown throughout the narrative, such as when Mina tells her about Sumaiya's condition and she reacts with compassion and understanding.
She also understands and supports Mina's desire to assist refugees, and she even sends Mina a care box including supplies to assist refugees. Francine exemplifies a kind and supporting partner, and her presence in Mina's life is critical to her success in assisting migrants.
Mina's brother
Mina's brother Mazen is a recurring character in the story. At first, he is shown as a chilly and unsupportive brother who is distant and uninvolved in Mina's life. He is a successful businessman who is well-known in the community and is held in high regard by those who know him. However, he has a hidden side to him that is shown at the end of the tale.
Mazen is also revealed to have a tremendous level of love and affection for Mina, which he exhibits via his acts. For example, when Mina feels fatigued and overwhelmed by her duties at the refugee camp, Mazen takes it upon himself to organize her accommodation and take her out for a meal. He also drives Mina around the city, trying to counter her feelings of helplessness and despair. He also helps her with the medical supplies for her patients and does whatever he can to help her in her mission.
Sumaiya
Sumaiya is a Syrian matriarch who has landed at Lesbos' Moria refugee camp. With a terminal liver cancer diagnosis, she is adamant about protecting her children and husband by any means. She refuses to inform her family about her condition and becomes close to Mina as a result of her secret. She is a determined woman who is willing to give up her life for the sake of her family. Despite her mortality, she is determined to keep on and provide for her family. Sumaiya represents the refugees' perseverance and fortitude, as well as their uncompromising attitude to never give up despite hardships.
White Americans and Europeans
The volunteers and social workers that come to the Moria refugee camp to help are white Europeans and Americans. They are described as people who care profoundly about the refugees and have sympathy and empathy for them. They are people who are dedicated to assisting in whatever way they can, even if it is as simple as taking a selfie with a refugee boat. They also realize the limitations of their assistance and the complexities of the situation. Even while they may not be able to provide lasting solutions for the refugees, they are eager to do what they can in the near term.
Refugees
The characters of the refugees in the book are fairly diverse. They come from different regions, have different origins, and have diverse experiences. Sumaiya, the family matriarch, is fiercely determined to defend her family and is willing to risk her own life to do so. She is knowledgeable and brave, and her acts show her love for her family. Mina also meets other refugees, including a young girl who is embarrassed by her headscarf, a teenage boy who is eager to learn English and an old man who is motivated to establish a better life for himself and his family.
Rasha, a young girl who arrives at the refugee camp with her family, is another case in point. Despite her young age, she takes on the responsibility of caring for her siblings, helping them feel safe and secure amid such uncertainty and chaos. They are also determined to find joy and beauty amid their suffering, as demonstrated by their singing and dancing in the camp.
