In 2015, 856,000 people passed through the Greek islands, and in 2017 and 2018 only just under 30 thousand (according to UNHCR). But 2019 brought already a growth – over 60,000 newcomers. Today, boats coming to Greek beaches are back again, and practice shows that you can get stuck in Lesbos for a good few years. Nikos and Katerina run a small restaurant on the island, where every refugee can feel at home and eat a meal for free.
10.03.2021
“It’s very cold,” – says a father of two young children, who’s been stuck with his family at a temporary encampment on Lesbos for a few months. The largest refugee camp in Europe burned down in September last year. A hastily erected tent structure in its place was supposed to serve as temporary shelter for fire victims. Nearly 7,000 people had to spend the winter there in extreme conditions.
“Everyone around us is constantly getting sick. The only medical help we are offered is a paracetamol tablet,” the man explains. The cold, blue lips of the camp’s children should serve as a wake up call to the international community, a signal to react and evacuate the camp. Abandoned by authorities, the inhabitants spent the winter attempting to insulate and seal up their tents. In February, wind gusts on the coast, where the camp was set up, reached 100 km/h. Lack of heating, hot water, and frequent power outages made the situation even worse.
As if that weren’t enough, the entire country of Greece has been dealing with a major increase in Covid-19 cases for the past few days. The resulting hard lockdown across the country has made it even more difficult to provide aid to those in need.
Katerina and Nikos are not laying down their arms. They continue to do everything they can to offer warm clothes, blankets and meals to the most vulnerable – all thanks to your support. Once again, we need to boost the fund to be able to bring essential help to those in need. Every week, we deliver about 2,000 meals to the sick, pregnant women and children. The cost of one hot meal is 15 PLN. We hope to always have enough meals for everyone – your support can make this happen. All it takes is a donation of just 15 PLN and a quick visit to GoodWorks24.
If you would like to get involved and support Katerina and Nikos on a regular basis, we provide an opportunity for you to do so. The Greek couple have just joined our Team of Angels project. You can now become a virtual helper without ever leaving your home and provide ongoing, impactful support to residents of Europe’s largest refugee camp. Even the smallest donations received regularly will enable us to plan essential purchases in advance and respond with greater urgency to the dynamically changing situation in the camp.
27.08.2023
The unpaved road stretches for kilometres and winds down the mountainous slopes. It cuts through bone-dry pine forests. From here to Mitylena, the island’s capital, it is more than 40 kilometres. To any sign of civilisation – more than 10. Out of sight, out of mind of all outsiders, a gigantic new refugee camp is […]
14.08.2023
Onur was a baker in Kurdistan. He is not afraid of any job. Stately, broad-shouldered, hands like vices. They have strength and feel. He arrived in Lesbos eight years ago. Abdul got off the boat on a Greek beach a year later. In Syria, he was a mechanic. He has fixed up his decrepit old […]
09.08.2023
“No disease will touch them. They are wild trees. They have already survived more than one pest.” When Nikos talks about olives, he grabs the listener’s full attention. You fall into a tunnel where there are you, Nikos and the olives. We talk like this for several hours. I don’t know how many. Nobody is […]
