The Hands On Global team are all safely home from the Moria Refugee Camp in Lesbos, Greece. We were reluctant to leave but felt we had no choice with the EU borders closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We left behind 22,000 refugees who do not have the privilege to leave. There are currently only 6 [...]
Today the medical clinic was closed. Everyone was working to get bedding and clothing in place for the 200 plus people needing shelter due to yesterday’s fire. The UNHCR worked to reissue paperwork as people have lost their papers. This is scary. Parents mourning the loss of their child, people were injured. One of our lovely [...]
We are in the midst of a hell realm - a huge fire today inside the camp, one child died, several hundred now without shelter. What else can go wrong ? Well Covid 19, the medical NGOs talking but still no direct actions to deal with this, the Greek hospital unwilling to address the potential of [...]
Tonight the NGOs are all meeting with the Greek Ministry of Health to come up with a plan for the camp if Covid-19 hits. So far only two cases on Lesvos and both are in the north, not near us. We have been taking precautions with masks and hand washing and gloves. The complication is [...]
Well another busy day in the clinic. It is pretty intense. All the medical NGOs are working hard as so many medical staff left due to the violence. Then the One Happy Family that housed the Doc Mobile clinic is closed due to the fire. Now, the Coronavirus scare and we are having discussions about [...]
We are caring for the unaccompanied minors and then camp emergencies. These kids are so heartbreaking. They are alone with no relatives, many still housed in the jungle, an unprotected area, because there is no room in the protected sections for them. We see them after fights, stabbings and just sick. They are all hungry [...]
Finally, a clinic day. And not too crazy for a first day. The clinic is urgent care, basically for emergencies but we also see the unaccompanied minors and do wound care. I did triage with Shayee with Zee translating, Debra did wound care. The day started out with a woman and her father who were attacked [...]
Today we went to the north end of the Island where the boats usually arrive from Turkey. We went to get life jackets from the life jacket graveyard to make the SOS Flowers, Key Chains and Scraps of Hope Cards. Lighthouse Rescue, an NGO that helps the refugees come ashore is still working there. Despite the [...]
The trip here went well. Flights were really good. We stayed in a lovely country house in Koropi, very close to the airport in Athens. The family was so kind, offering us free housing on our return because they support what we do. Their house was charming, with several greenhouses where they grow herbs. They also [...]
We leave for Greece tomorrow. Truly into the belly of the beast. It is beyond comprehension - the violence, the politics, the devastation. These refugees are suffering so much. We are going to deliver healthcare, a drop in an ocean of misery. We are being strong, not brave, we are scared. We vacillated for a [...]
