Especially challenging day today. We saw about 7 young men, all minors aged 16 and 17. They are here alone, escaping bad situations in their country, most of them VOT (victims of torture). They are supposed to be protected and sheltered away from the general population but these boys are camped in the jungle in [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
