Syrian Refugee Arrives In Greece With His Beloved Kitten Strapped To His Chest

An image purportedly showing a Syrian refugee arriving in Greece with his beloved kitten in his arms is going viral.

Wearing a backpack and a sling containing his precious furry cargo, the man has an expression of pure relief on his face.

The picture, which was reportedly taken on the island of Lesbos, was shared on Greek website Protothema and is being touted as a ray of light in an otherwise bleak humanitarian tragedy.

Little is known about the man - though according to sources on Twitter the kitten is named Zeytouna - Arabic for 'Olive'.

Around 11 million Syrians have fled their country amid violence meted out by dictator Bashar Assad and the Islamic State terror group.

SEE ALSO:

• What's In My Bag? The Possessions Of Refugees Running For Their Lives
• 26 Pictures Of Hope And Optimism Show Another Side To The Refugee Crisis
• Egyptian Billionaire 'To Name Refugee Island After Drowned Syrian Boy' #aylanISLAND