Moria refugee camp on Lesbos - Background information
Day 1 in Moria
There are currently around 68.5 million refugees in the world, 57% of whom come from three countries: Afghanistan, Syria and South Sudan. Almost half of them are school-age children.
The Moria camp on Lesbos, where we are helping out, was actually planned as a hotspot - in other words, a place where refugees would only stay for 2 - 3 days to be registered at a location with a high number of arrivals. That was the plan.
Current situation on Lesbos
The reality is that most people there have to wait two months to two years until it is clear whether they can stay or will be deported again.
The temporary camp was planned for 2500 people, last year in autumn there were 9000 people living here, then about 4000 were distributed to camps in mainland Greece, now there are only about 5500, which is still far too many, up to three families share a container, others live in tents.
A further 4500 live in other, smaller camps on Lesbos.
People who can no longer find a place in the actual camp build themselves in the so-called Jungle , The people built shelters from pallets, tarpaulins and other makeshift materials in a neighbouring olive grove.
Help for the people
The people receive daily food from the Greek government, as well as pocket money of 90 euros a month.
Aid organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières provide medical care for children and raped women (!).
offer women a place where they can take a warm shower, wash clothes and drink tea.
Eurorelief, A Greek aid organisation that we work with is doing an incredible amount here to alleviate at least the worst of the suffering.
New arrivals - an average of 41 per day (2018 figures) receive a parcel containing clothing (trousers, shirt, socks, underwear, jacket), toiletries (they need 800 bottles of shampoo a month alone!), a sleeping bag and a (thin) mat. The donated materials in the photo are - now that summer is coming with many new refugees - a supply for about 3 months.
From time to time there are special campaigns, for example when a large donation makes it possible to buy proper mattresses for several hundred people or small heating stoves for the unheated (!) containers.
All of this has to be coordinated.
In the warehouse
Four of us helped out in the warehouse today, taking stock so that we know how many of certain items are available so that we can make targeted requests for donations. A Swiss lorry is coming on Saturday, for example, bringing mainly sleeping bags and towels.
It is forbidden to take pictures in the camp itself, but on the site of i58, of an aid organisation can give you an insight. Or you can simply google Camp Moria, Lesbos.
The text from Mother Teresa at the top was on the paper in which the lunch was wrapped. I thought that was beautiful.
And of course, the best moment of the day was when a Hazara woman (ethnic group from Afghanistan) came up to me at the gate of the camp and gave me a flower. Just like that.
It is now in a book and will be pressed - and kept as a precious treasure.
