My farewell to Camp Moria on Lesbos

For reasons that are not clear to me, the post got stuck in the drafts on my blog.

That's why you're now receiving it late.

Luxury: A bedroom to myself with a proper mattress. A hot shower. An oven that works. The freedom to go, drive or fly wherever I want. One of the most valuable passports in the world in terms of visa-free travel. I can make myself a healthy smoothie afterwards and can communicate well in two languages and in fragments in another. I have stable internet and can get books and learn whatever I want.

The current situation in Moria

Privileges that the people in Moria can only dream of, eight of whom sleep in a 2 x 3 metre container room - if they are so lucky. The others sleep on 1 cm thin plastic mats in tents.

Nevertheless - as bad as it is - the situation is far less catastrophic than one or two years ago, when the sewerage system didn't work, the camp was completely covered and there were fights in the camp almost every night. During my time there, I only witnessed one fight between two women and, of course, scuffles between the children.

Basic medical care is provided by volunteers. Wounds can be disinfected, severely traumatised people are given sedatives, teeth are extracted or filled.

Overall, a certain routine has returned to the camp. The housing situation is still difficult to catastrophic, but the basic supplies are working. The people get to eat (a sugary chocolate croissant for breakfast) and lots of bread for dinner. Few vegetables or proteins. Occasionally tomatoes, Greek cheese or an egg. Some cook in the accommodation themselves - which is of course forbidden due to the risk of fire, but nobody has extension leads to put the hobs outside.

The people have clean drinking water, and on arrival they are given clothes, blankets, a sleeping bag and a thin mat. After all, in March 1100 mattresses donated are distributed. The residents receive pocket money (90 euros a month) and have terrible internet, which is shared by far too many, but at least it is available. Rubbish is disposed of and it is clean and tidy in front of and inside the accommodation - only some paths and corners are covered in dirt.

Children and young people in Moria

Because Moria is actually just a hotspot where people stay for a short time to register, there is no school, although the children and young people are usually in Moria for several months to two years. So much for the short term.

Some aid organisations offer one hour of lessons per day - with teachers who are refugees themselves. It is particularly hard for the underage boys, who are in their prime - they have few opportunities to learn and nothing to do.

The children play in the camp or in the neighbouring olive grove. Like everywhere else in the world, they cook soup from flowers and leaves, argue and make up, invent games and toys. Like the one girl who asked me for four pieces of rubber band when I was weaving bracelets from elasticated rubber band with other children. She came back and had made an instrument with four strings out of cardboard and the rubber band.

The situation in Europe

What moves me more than the cramped, poor situation is Europe's behaviour. The opportunities to help refugees are being increasingly restricted. It no longer matters that these are people who have a right to flee from war and violence.

An employee of an aid organisation that was on a rescue boat in the Mediterranean to save people, but was then charged with "people smuggling", told of the reactions of the coastguard when they passed on the information that they had found a body on the water:

• If it is a black one, sink the body in the sea.
• If it is a white man, bring him ashore for identification.

In Greece, it is forbidden to shine car headlights towards the sea. This is considered an escape aid - the light could show boats the way. It is also not permitted to take a recently arrived, soaked and freezing refugee, who has not yet been registered by the authorities, to the nearest camp by car. This is also considered an escape aid.

I don't know what I can say - I'm ashamed of so much inhumane legislation. And I feel helpless. I just think it's terrible.

Personal initiative in Moria

I was impressed by people's small and large projects to improve their lives. The hairdressers and bakers and vendors who have opened their shops. The children who build "sledges" etc.

At the camp, I met a woman from Afghanistan who I'll call Safira. She has set up a group for women to help them cope with the difficult situation.

The 15 or so women go walking regularly - I think even daily. And she shares books with them in a WhatsApp group that are helpful. They would also like to do more sport, but they don't have clothes that they can move well in.

I took this on as a private project because no aid organisation is allowed to use donations for individual refugee initiatives like this. But I think it's great when people take the initiative themselves to improve their situation

My goal is, 300 Euro or more. For 20 euros you could get simple shirts and sports trousers - for 10 euros more you could also get thin sports shoes.

If you want to help and would like to donate sportswear to a woman, for example, you are welcome to do so via my account. I will then pass it on to a local employee: DE20 1008 0000 0479 8594 08

Addendum 21. 06.The goal has been reached and surpassed! THANK YOU!

More info and Insights into the situation in Moria

Photo right: Some of the people currently living on Lesbos. Every green number is a person with a story.

You can find the general donation account for Moria and other current stories and reports from Andrea Wegener, an employee on site, on the Blog from Andrea. 

I will carry Moria and the people there in my heart... and who knows, maybe I will go back there one day. If you want to help yourself, you can contact Eurorelief inform and register.

And Evi, the head of our team, has posted a few more vlogs:

English

Vlog day 1:https://youtu.be/GLsirIssj8A
Vlog day 2: https://youtu.be/eSbAftUu9Wg
Vlog day 3: https://youtu.be/92KJdhChhaY
Vlog day 4: https://youtu.be/oQseX3u_f1Y
Vlog day 5: https://youtu.be/b5sv8fzos4I
Vlog day 6: https://youtu.be/0GbuPNC7lCY
Vlog day 7: https://youtu.be/qDKYWg5HKBA
Vlog day 8: https://youtu.be/6-ubkpghYDc