Lesbos Relief
Update:
On September 8, 2020, fires broke out at Camp Moria in Lesbos, Greece, and by the next evening the camp was destroyed, leaving 13,000 refugees without shelter. Many have lost what little belongings they've had and have been forced to sleep on the streets. Almost half of the former residents have moved into a new camp. Our GAiN Worldwide network is looking into possible ways to get involved and to help. In the meantime, please keep the refugees and asylum seekers in your prayers.
(Photo Source: GAiN Switzerland)
The island of Lesbos is home to one of the most notorious refugee camps, Camp Moria. Originally built for 3,000, the camp is well over capacity with over 20,000 refugees who have had to call it “home.”
As of April 2020, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Moria since the virus was declared a global pandemic by WHO on March 11, 2020. However, many of the volunteers at the camp have left to return to their home countries, adding hardship to the camp that has already had to deal with outbreaks of violence in the area and a fire in just the past couple of months before.
In these overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, standard COVID health recommendations (such as social distancing and regular handwashing to prevent the spread of germs and slow down the spread of the virus) is nearly impossible. There is currently one tap per 1,300 residents and many of the people who live in Moria are considered vulnerable and at-risk.
During this global crisis, Global Aid Network (GAiN) feels called to be at Moria. Our worldwide GAiN offices are working together to send a DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) to reveal hope and restore life to refugees at the camp.
The team will help with daily roles in the camp, filling in some of the areas that were vacated when previous volunteers had to leave.
They will also build a clinic area that can act as an isolation area if anyone in the camp gets infected with the virus.
In addition, GAiN worldwide will also send five trucks of GIK (gifts in kind), including baby food, diapers, blankets, etc.
