Feb 26: “They are dedicated to helping themselves and their fellow refugees.”
Our jungle medical camp today: The sun was shining but the cold wind was blowing. We saw 70 people today. Many, many VOT. Victims of Torture. Many just sick from the conditions and untreated chronic illnesses. Saw 3 women today with history of sexual violence. Raped in Turkey on the journey to freedom. The van is working really well. [...]
Feb 26: “Here there is a feeling of depressed desperation.”
Another cold and rainy day but the jungle clinic saw over 60 patients. One woman who had pneumonia was in the camp for 2 months and had NO COAT. She came in with a fever coughing and shivering so badly she couldn’t use her hands. We got her inside our van and Riikka made a mad dash to Omar’s [...]
Feb 25: “It is an emotional roller coaster here.”
Yesterday was such a busy day. I came back to the Airbnb and planned on an hour rest . . . I slept in my clothes until 2 am. It is an emotional roller coaster here. The refugees we are seeing are all from Africa. They are so grateful. They are treated terribly in every way. There were so many [...]
Feb 24: Thank all of you for ”loving him without knowing him.”
Spent yesterday organizing, preparing meds, wound care. Alex, our refugee coordinator, organized a meeting with some camp leaders. These folks are refugees. They are eager to help us and figured out a system that they will manage to keep crowds under control and ensure our safety. They shared their stories and their frustrations at being trapped on this island [...]
Feb 22: Welcome to “The Jungle”
We are here on a beautiful Greek island setting up to work outside a refugee camp in “the jungle“ - the overflow of 4,500 people. The conditions are appallingly terrible. People are living in small tents, some have tarps, most don’t. There are only three porta potties so people are urinating and defecating in plastic bottles. We did our first [...]
Feb 19: Hands on Global is on their way to Samos, Greece!
Our Hands On Global team is heading to Samos Island, Greece on FEB 20th. We had a medication packing party at my house and now have six 50 lb. bags of medicine ~ all ready to go. We have a portable exam table packed up, a portable ultrasound, a nebulizer and Marcia just called from Missoula to say we [...]