A bust of Fridtjof Nansen, the Norwegian explorer, scientist and humanitarian, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on behalf of displaced victims of World War I, was erected in a prominent Athens square on the occasion of his 150th birthday.

A series of events commemorated Nansen’s humanitarian activities as the League of Nations’ first High Commissioner for Refugees and the assistance he provided Greeks who were displaced as a result of the war and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

On October 10, a conference dedicate to Nansen took place at the Athens Academy where speakers praised Nansen for his untiring work to aid and assist both Greek and Armenian refugees and for introduction on the “Nansen passport” for stateless persons.

Approximately 450,000 Nansen passports were issued, helping hundreds of thousands of stateless people to immigrate to a country that would have them.

Nansen worked on behalf of refugees until his sudden death in 1930, after which the League established the Nansen International Office for Refugees to ensure that his work continued.